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E E P O R T 



OF THE 



CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, 



ON THE TWENTY-FOURTH OF JUNE, 1865, 



AT PAWTUCKET, 



OF THE 



IKCOnPOBATIOM OF THE TOW.Tf OF 



NORTH PROVIDENCE. 







QJ3I 



PRO VIDENCiS 

18 6 5. 



Ji 



NQf^^ 



FIFTY COPIES QUARTO, 



Printed for Albert V. Jenks 



No. A- 



-/ 



KSOWLES, ASTHOHY & Co„ PRI^•TEKB. 



ESPECIALLY TO THE NATIVES AND OLDER RESIDENTS OF THIS TOWN. 
WHO HAVE WELCOMED TALENT AND SKILL FROM ABROjVD, 

AND HAVE HtTBTtTBED Iin>08TRY AND ENTEKPKI8K AT HOME ; 

lyi^a to tlje §^^5.?ut f 0WS of litis iowxT, 

WHO STILL LOVE THE PLACE OF THEIR BIKTll, 

AND PKAVPOK ITS rKOSPERITY, 

THIS BOOK IS 

Jtl.SP ECTFVI.LY niSnlCATEJt. 



ACTION IN TOWN MEETING 



Ncyrth Providence, Septembei- 26, l^t54. 

IN TOWN MEETING, legally called, the following Preaiiilile and 
Resolutions were presented by Edward S. Wilkinson, Esq., and 
unanimously adopted : 

TFZi.e?'e«s, in the month of June, A. D. ISGo, will be the One Hun- 
dredth Anniversary of the incorporation of the town by the General 
Assembly : therefore. 

Resolved, That a Committee of nine be appointed for the purpose of 
making such arrangements as they may deem expedient for the proper 
celebration of the Centennial Anniversary of the incorporation of this town, 
and that said Committee be authorized to draw on the Town Treasurer for 
any expense that may be incurred in such celebration, provided the amount 
does not exceed the sum of one thousand dollars. 

Resolved, That Daniel Wilkinson, Charlks S. Bradley, Henry 
Armington, Olney Arnold, Hiram H. Thomas, Obadiah Brown, 
William F. Sayles, Le\vi>; Fairbrother, and Amasa M. Eaton 
compose said Conunitteu. and that tin y be authorized to fill any vacancies 
that luav occur in their own number.-. 



TRAXSAOTIONS 



C ( ) M M I T r E E O F A K* K A N G E i\T E N 'P 



IN APRIL. 1S()"), the Committee met, and organized by clioosing 
Daniel Wilkinson, Chairman, and Amasa M. Eaton, Secretary- 
After n free interchange of opinion between several of tlie Committee 
as to what kind (if a eelebration to get up, it was 

VoteJ, That Daniel Wilkinson, Henry Armington and Amasa 
M. Eaton be a sub-connnittee to make all the necessary arrangements for 
getting up a celebration worthy of the occasion. 

The (Jommitteo (^^wtenl^ed an invitation to ihe Kev. Massena Good- 
lucn, Pastor of the Mill Street Universalist Society, of Pawtucket, to 
deliver an Address, wiiicii lie kindly accepted. 

All the preliminary arrangements having been made, Satnnhiv, June 
24lh. Isii"), was fixed upon as the day for the celcbriition. 



THE CELEBRATION, 



AT TEN o'clock, on the morning of Saturday, June 24tli, 18G5, 
the procession commenced forming on Summer street : and all 
things being in readiness, moved in the following order: 



THE PROCESSION. 

Chief Ifarshnl— W 11.1.1 AU It. Walker, Esq. 
j^lds — Col. Stephen K. Bucklin, Capt. Christopher Duckwoktii, and 

Joseph F. Brown, Esq. 

American Brass Band, twenty-four pieces. 

Company H, Pawtucket Light Guard, Capt. Crocker. 

Returned Veterans of the town of North Providence, in unifm-m. 

Drum Band. 

Rhode Island Engine Company No. 1, Capt. Jenks. 

Monitor Steam Fire Engine Company, Capt. McQuiSTiox. 

Rouoh and Ready Engine Company, No. 2, Capt. Collyer. 

Fairmount Engine Company, No. 3, Capt. Bennett. 

Committee of Arrangements. 

Orator of the day and Officiating Clergyman. 

Clergymen of the town. 

Town Officers. 

Fircward.- and Presidents of Fireward.'<. 

State Officer,*. 



S THE CELEBRATION. 

Members of the General Assomhly. 

Invited Guests. 

r;irriiiife eontiiiniiig tliirty-six young ladies, representing the thirty-six 

States, under the direction of Capt. C. Duckwouth. 

Citizens of the town and vicinity. 



'i'lic procession marched through North Union to Main street, down 
-Alain to Pleasant, down Pleasant to Jenks, up Jenks, through Cedar 
tn George street, through George to Common, uj) Common to Main 
street, down Main street, over the Bridge, up Main street to Walcott, 
down Walcott street to Front, through Front street and over the 
Bridge, up Mill street to Exchange, up Exchange street to High, 
through High street to the First Baptist Church. 



EXERCISES AT THE CHURCH. 



EXEECISES AT THE CHURCH. 



ARRIVING at the Cluircli, the Assembly was called to order by 
the Hon. Charles S. Bradley, President of the day. The 
exei'clses commenced by the singing of the 

MoTETT — " Praise the Lord," 

by a select choir, under the direction of Paudox E. Tillixghast, Esq. 
Then followed an original hymn, written for the occasion by James 
Wood, Esq. : 

To-<lay, "we stand ou holy ground, 

■Whence ceaseU-ss comforts flow, 
■Where all was one wide wilderness 

A hundred years ago. 

Our fathers, nerved with manly strength, 

Broke up the rugged sod; 
Not in their strength alone they toiled, 

But put their trust in God. 

He crowned their labors with success, 

And soon the harren wild 
Became a second paradise;— 

Another Eden smiled. 

A kindred ]ieople joined as one, 

■With hearts and feelings warm. 
And industry and thrift built up 

The cottage and the farm. 



12 EXERCISES AT THE CHURCH. 

The cluirch aud school-liouse rose to view, 

To teach and preach His word, 
Till all the place was dotted o'er 

With temples to the Lord. 

Here Art and Science found their place. 

Built reservoir and flume; 
The potent power of steam projielled 

The spindle and the loom. 

In kindred works, from year to year, 

Our sires did thus engage, 
Then left to us a pleasant place 

And goodly heritage. 

Let us, their children, live like them. 

In faith, and works, and prayers. 
So w^e may leave to future times 

A record bright as theirs. ' 

Prayer was offered by Rev. Charles E. Smith, Pastor of the First 
Baptist Church, as follows : 

Aljiighty God I Tliou Ruler of nations ! We thank Thee for the 
blessing,s of one hundred years. We thank Thee, that by Thy provi- 
dential appointment, our lot has been cast on this western continent, far 
from the tyranny of dei^pots and the injustice of the old world. We 
thank Thee, that from our infancy we have known onl}- the benign 
influences of free institutions ; that it has been ours to enjoy the foster- 
ing care and the ennobling power of an enlightened christian civilization. 
We thank Thee, that of all ]jlaces upon the earth, the lines have fallen 
to us in our beloved New England. We thank Thee for the intellisrence, 
and highmindcdness, and piety of our forefathers : that the beginning 
of our history was due, not to the promptings of the spirit of gain, but 
to the impulses of conscience. We thank Thee that the experiment of 
free government has been so successfully tried, and that, after a century 
of local, municipal rule, it has not been found wanting ; at least, so tin- 
as the great essentials to human hapj)iness and prosperity are concerned. 
We thank Thee that this centennial anniversary finds us, in common 
with all our nation, once more in the possession of that peace of which, 
for four terrible years, we have been bereft, and in possession of such 
surprising and excellent results as abundantly compensate us for the 



EXERCISES AT THE CHURCH. 13 

expenditure of blood and treasure, and will be a priceless licrita"-e to 
coming generations. We tbank Thee for an emancipated land ; for a 
government strong to protect us against foreign foes and domestic 
insurgents. And now that we bring our thank-offerings into Thy pres- 
ence, humbly im])loring the forgiveness of our sins, and acknowledging 
our own demerit, we urge, in the name of Christ, these petitions : We 
entreat the continuance of the favor of our fathers' God to tlii'ir cliil(h-en 
to the latest generations. We ask Thee tliat, when another century shall 
have taken its flight, the blessings to be commemorated shall be no less 
than those we call to mind to-day. We ask Thee that this soil, sacred 
indeed to us by its associations witli the excellent who have passed away, 
may continue the home of freedom, intelligence, virtue, and relioion. 
We ask Thee that the Great Repuljlic of which this town and State are 
constituent parts, may advance, under tlie guidance of Jehovah, to th.at 
unexampled preeminence among tlie nations which our hearts alreadv so 
fondly foretell. AYe pray that religious liberty, which first found a civil 
home within our own State, but now reigns through our land, may never 
be succeeded by religious persecutions, tliat our country may continue 
the home of the exile, and the refuge of the oppressed. Let justice be 
done through all our borders ; let vice be outlaweil by the general virtue 
of tiie people ; let religion be respected, protected, and exert its legitimate 
influence throufjh our land. And now, nravinif for Thv blessiii<>- unon 
all who are in authority, whether in the General Government, the State, 
or our town corporation, beseeching Tiiee to direct in wisdom the issue 
of those important political questions which ju>t now agitate the public 
mind, we entreat Thee to add Tliy blessing to the present occasion, 
making the words of him who sliall address us, together with all the 
exercises of the Iiour, minister to our profit, and to Tiiy gli)ry, through 
Jesus Christ, our Lokd. Amen. 

Then followed anotiier original hymn, written foi' llie occasion by 
J.vMEs Wood, Esq.: 

To (iOD— our fatliers' GoD — we raise 
The tribute of our lieartt'elt praise; 
Through eutlles.s ages still the same, 
We hless anil niaguity Tliy name. 



14 EXERCISES AT THE CHURCH. 

We tliank Thee that Tliy own right hand 
Hath saved and sanctified our land, 
Where GoD-crowued Liberty alone 
Shall hold dominion ou her throne. 

We bless Thee for the grace that comes 

To grateful hearts and happy homes, 

To teach our souls to feel and know 

The source from whence these blessings flow. 

Let greater love each bospm swell, 
Tliau pen can write or tongue can teU, 
Till each and all around shall be, 
As near as mortals may, — like Tliee. 

So when we leave these earthly scenes, 
To pass the gulf that intervenes, 
A Saviour's arms shall bear us o'er. 
And land us safe on Canaan's shore. 

After whicli, the President of the (hiy introduced to the audience 
the Rev. Massena Goodrich, wlio delivered the following historical 
and interestincT Centennial Addres.s. 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 



INTRODUCTORY NOTE. 



Gratitude and ])ropriety demand that I acknowledge my indebtedness to some of my 
fellow-citizens, for information supplied. I forbear to mention the books which I have 
consulted, as they are public property. I name simply those persons from whom I have 
received oral information. To Rev. Dr. Benedict, to E. S. Wilkinson, Esq., to Capt. 
K. G. B. Dexter, Stephen Randall, Esq., Lemuel Angell, Esq., Francis H. Shep- 
AHD, Esq., and to Daniel Wilkinson, Esq., I return my thanks. I must add to these 
names, those of Capt. James S. Bkown, of Pawtucket, and Mr. Samuel Greene, of 
Woonsocket. If this address has any merit, it is largely attributable to the information 
given, and services rendered, by the gentlemen above named. 

M. G. 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 



I 



T Is interesting in treating of the history of a town or State, to trace 
it from its feeble beginning through its various stages of growth. 
It is pleasing to be able to answer the questions, Who felled the first 
trees of the^primeval' forests within its borders? Whose plowshare 
turned the first furrow? Whose hoe broke the first sod? Whose cabin 
sheltered the first residents? These are questions, fellow-citizens, that 
cannot be answered with regard to our town. It had no independent 
existence till a century ago. It commenced its race, not a blushing 
maiden, but the mother of an already large family. Its early history 
is therefore connected with that of Providence. Several of the most 
thriving towns of our State can say, Providence is the mother of us all. 
A word on this point, however, may not be out of place. The 
settlement of Providence was probably begun two hundred and twenty- 
nine years ago this very month. Its territory was then very extensive. 
In the year 1731, however, its boundaries were materially curtailed. 
Smithfield, Scituate and Gloucester were cut off, and Incorporated as 
Independent towns. In 1754, Its area was diminished still more : Crans- 
ton was incorporated. In 1759, the town of Johnston was established. 
And lastly our own town was cut off; and then the territory of our 
common mother was left in peace. 



18 CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

The petition for tlie severing of our own town from Providence 
was presented to the General Assembly at the February session in 
1765. Action was, however, deferred to the next session in June. At 
tliat time an act was passed granting the prayer of the petitioners, save 
in respect to the name. Tiiey had desired that the new town be called 
AVenscutt. The Assembly decreed, however, that the name should be 
North Providence. The grounds on which the petitioners based their 
recjuest, are stated in the preamble of the act of incorporation. I 
quote from that duciunent : 

" Wiicrcas, a large number of the inhabitants of the northern part of the 
town (if Priividence, preferred a petition, and represented to this Assembly, 
tliat tliere are witliin the limits of said township, upwards of four hundred 
freemen ; that those who dwell in the most comjjact part, are altogether 
merchants and tradesmen ; and that far the greater portion of the ijetition- 
ers dwell in the more remote part of said township, and are near all far- 
mers, whose interest and business differ from the merchants ; that town 
meetings have been often called and held in the compact part, upon matters 
and things which did not, and d(j not, concern the farmers in the northern 
and more remote parts of said town ; that they, the petitioners, neverthe- 
less, have been, and still are, obliged to leave farming business, and to 
attend upon said meetings, to prevent things being voted to their disadvan- 
tage, wiiich hath occasioned much loss of time, contention, and exj)ense, 
which ought to be borne by the merchants and tradesmen ; all which, 
being very inconvenient, they j)rayed to be set off, erected, and made into 
a township," &c. 

After tills [)reanible the iVssembly proceed to enact that the town of 
Providence be divided, and they designate the boundaries. 

Tiiere ap[)ear to liave been one hundred and fifteen petitioners to 
the original prayei-, and tliey represent that out of the tour hundred 
freemen of the town, about one hundred and sixty reside in the part 
proposed to be set off. The act of the Assembly led, however, to no 
little criminati(jn and strife. The boundary line, instead of being so 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 19 

* 
run as to separate the fanning section of the town from the more 

compact portion, threw quite a strip of" the hitter part into flic new 

township ; and cool historians, who cannot participate in tiie fierce 

personal or ])olitical controversies of a hundred years ago, liave been 

constrained to conclude that the ostensible reason for dividing Pr<ni- 

dence was not the sole reason. A bitter feud then existed between 

Governors Wakd and Hopkins ; and it is supposed that the main 

design in establishing a new town at that particular time, and of 

throwing into it a part of the compactly settled portion of Providence, 

was to secure the election of representatives to the General Assembly 

favorable to Gov. Ward. Yon will pardon me, however, wlio am not 

"a native to the manor born," for confessing my ignorance of the 

special points at issue between those eminent men. Let the dead bury 

their dead. I only remark, that two years after, when Gov. Hopkins 

secured the ascendency in the colon}-, the southern bounds of North 

Providence were established as they now exist. 

The act further provided that the town of North Providence should 
be represented by two deputies in tlie (ieneral Assembly, All the 
justices of the peace, and military officers, previously chosen or ajipointed 
for the town of Providence, who lived in the town now made North 
Providence, were empowered to retain as full power and authority as 
they had previously possessed ; and John Olney, Esq., was authorized 
to issue a warrant, and call the freemen of the new town to meet together, 
" at the house of Capt. Thomas Olney, within the same, on or before 
the 8th day of July, in order to choose and appoint all otlicers necessary 
for managing and conducting the ])rudential affairs of said town, agree- 
ably to the laws of this colony." 

From this brief survey, fellow-citizens, you perceive that many inter- 
esting matters are left subjects of conjecture. It is highly probable 
that some part of the territory of our town was occupied shortly after 
the settlement of Providence. The hardy pioneer seeking a new home, 



20 CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

avails himself of every natural atlvautage ; and as our town is pierced 
by two or three streams, there is no doubt that settlers soon ascended 
the Pawtucket as far as the falls, and the Woonasquatucket. Indeed, 
some well known facts show this to have been the case with regard 
to the former river. Tradition represents that Joseph Jexks came to 
tlie neighborhood of Pawtucket falls about the year 1655. He was a 
native of England, and followed, when a young man, his father to our 
continent. The senior Jenks had settled in Lynn, Mass., and engaged 
in the business of manufacturing iron. The younger Jenks, having 
come to Lynn, found, as tradition represents, that the rapid increase of 
population was using up wood so fast, that, ere long, there would be 
an insufficiency for the supply of coal. And as charcoal was the sole 
means of heating the forges, a failure of forest trees would be a serious 
drawback. As the forests were doubtless liere standing in their native 
luxuriance, the shores of the Pawtucket invited the comino- of Mr. 
Jexks. His first ])urchase of land is supposed to have been of a 
faniil}' named Mowky ; but an authentic document has been quoted 
by Dr. Benedict, in the form of a deed from Abel Pottek, of 
IMoshanticut, conveying " sixty acres of land, more or less, which was 
formerly laid out to my wife IIachel's grandfather, Mr. Ezekiel 
HuLLiJiAX, lying near Pawtucket falls, together with a commonage, the 
said three score lot and commonage having been bequeathed to my 
wife Rachel Potteu, formerly called Kachel Warnek." This 
deed was dated October 10th, lOTl. Over a century, therefore, before 
the incorporation of our town, Joseph Jexks was witliin its limits, 
engao-ed in some branch of iron manufacturing. 

Time forbids my dealing largely, in such an address as this, with 
the history of any single families. It is not improper, however, to 
remind you, fcllow-citi/.cns, that Ezekiel Holliman was one of the 
twelve who constituted the first Baptist church in Khode Island. 
Joseph Jexks was the father of several men who became eminent in 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 21 

the business and political affairs of tlie infant colony. The title of 
Assistant, answering to Lieutenant Governor now, is always added in 
old writings to the name of the father ; and of his four sons, Joseph 
was Governor of Ehode Island from 1727 to 1732; Nathaniel had 
tlie title of major; Ebexezer was a minister; and AVilliam a judge. 
Every one of these sons built frame houses, w liidi long stood as land- 
marks in the village of Pawtucket, Jsorth Providence.* 

The old stone chimney house on Mill street was enlarged by the 
addition to it of a part of the house in which the senior Joseph 
Jenks once resided. Old residents aver that, in their boyhood, they 
read on that cliimney the figures 1G8-, the last figure being illegible. 
Dr. C. F. Manchester occupies the house once the mansion of Gov. 
Jenks. I see, however, by Gov. Arnold's history, tliat it was deemed 
" highly necessary for the governor of this colony to live at Newport, 
the metropolis of the government ;" and an approi)riation was made of 
one hundred pounds to defray the expenses of Gov. Jenks's removal. 
As our town was then a part of Providence, this was doubtless 
intended as a gentle reminder to Providence, that, even if she had a 
citizen of hers chosen governor, she must recollect her inferioritv to 
Newport. 

But I pass rapidly over other matters connected with the early 
history of what afterwards became Nortii Providence, till I come to speak 



*A word as to tlie orif^nal use of the word Pawtucket may remove ambiguity. Tlie term 
Pmrtiiclcet is said to signify falls of water. When ajiiilied to the adjoining tract of land, it sig- 
nified in the outset what has since been called the village of Pawtucket, North Providence. 
When the name was originally given, the territory east of the river formed a part of the town 
of Rehoboth, Mass. This town was subsequently divided into three townships, — Eehohoth, 
Seekonk, and Pawtucket. While the last-named town remained in Massachusetts, it was 
easy to distinguish between Pawtucket, Slass., and Pawtucket, R. I. Four or five years ago, 
however, upon making an exchange of territory, Pawtucket, Jfass , became the town of 
Pawtucket, R. I. ; so that our State now has the town of Pawtucket, and a village of Paw- 
tucket. The latter lies in the township of North Providence, and is alwajs referred to whin 
Pawtucket is named in earlier histories, or in this address. 



22 CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

specially of the imlu.stiial history of our town. Old chronicles iuforni 
us that in the year 167G, a Capt. PiEUSE, with fifty English and a 
like number of friendly Indians, was slain, and liis whole force put to 
death, near Pawtucket foils, by a band of hostile Indians. This hap- 
pened March 26th, and three days after, the north part of Providence 
was destroyed by the Indians. As the foundation walls of the liouses 
were visible years ago near Harringtox's lane, the presumption is 
that a part of the settlers were living in what is now our own town. 
Indeed, according to Dr. Benedict's reminiscences, the old forge 
erected by the elder Jenks was burnt by the Indians, during King 
Phillip's war, about the year 1676. 

As I shall treat, however, in the sequel, of several other interesting 
matters connected with the history of our town while forming a part 
of Providence, I pass over the ninety years intervening between the last 
date mentioned and the time of incorporating our town, by remarking 
that the enterprising habits of the Jexkses drew around them and their 
successors many an artisan. As wduit is now tlie City of Providence 
became more thickly settled, the outlying portions were brought under 
cultivation. Trees were felled, the ground broken up, cabins and 
houses were reared, and the hills were covered with flocks, and the 
valleys with corn ; so tliat, when the act of incorporation was passed, 
North Providence contained a number of freemen two-thirds as crreat 
as those who remained in the mother town. By examining a census 
of the colony of Phode Island in the j-ear 1774, — nine years after the 
incorporation of our town, — I find tliat tlie whole number of families in 
the colony was 9,450. Of the inhabitants, there were of whites 54,460 ; 
of Indians, 1,479 ; of blacks, 3,668 ; making a total of 59,607. At that 
period the population of North Providence consisted of 138 families. 
Of the population, there were of whites, 792 ; of Indians, 7 ; of blacks, 
31 : making a total of 83i>. Of the heads of families, 132 were males, 
6 females. It may not be uninteresting to note here, that the jiopu- 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 23 

lation of our town, by the last census, taken five years ago, was 11,820 
souls. In eighty-six years, therefore, it had increased more than four- 
teen fold. 

And here, fellow-citizens, I may pause one moment to note the 
special character of the early New P^ngland towns. A good historian, 
in speaking of the Roman Empire, remarks that tliere were, properly 
speaking, " no country places, no villages. At least, the country was 
nothing like wliat it is in the present day. It was cultivated, no doubt, 
but it was not peopled. The proprietors of lands dwelt in cities ; they 
left these occasionally to visit their rural property, where they usually 
kept a certain number of slaves ; but that which we now call the 
country, — that scattered population, sometimes in lone houses, some- 
times in hamlets and villages, — was altogether unknown in ancient 
Italy. 'Twas with cities that Rume fnught, with citie?' that she made 
compacts, and into cities that she sent colonies." In distinction from 
this, our New England population was largely distributed in little 
country villages, every one of them a miniature democracy. But 
unlike the towns of Greece, there was, from the beginning, a tendency 
to union. In Greece, every city was autonomous. It claimed the 
extreme of individualitv and isolation. Tiic most threateiiinir dantrers 
could hardly drive the cities of that land to united ett'ort. Among our 
New England towns, on the contrary, while, from the iirst, local needs 
were provided for, local rights, in minor things, watched over, there was 
a recollection of the fact that evCry little hamlet, in every colony, was 
but a member of a larger body. The tendency was, in fine, not to 
selfish isolation, but to nationalitv. And if resentment auainst rea^ or 
fancied wrongs, committed bv the stronger colonies against their feebler 
neighbors, had tended to repulsion, the perils to which our ancestors 
were exposed uraed to vmion. Our fathers gloried in their En"lish 
descent. They were not ready t(» be absorbed by the French colonies. 
Constant perils threatened from the Indians and the French. Every 



24 CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

town felt, therefore, the need of sympatliy and help. Every colony 
had at tunes to seek the assistance of Its neighbors. By consequence, 
while our country villages grew up democratic in tendency, and exer- 
cising in many respects a manly self-reliance, they yet clung closely to 
the large towns for protection or aid. 

The preamble to the act of incorporation, which I have already 
quoted, shows that the majority of the inhabitants of our town, a cen- 
tury ago, were tillers of the soil. But our territory is not extensive 
enough, nor is our soil sufficiently rich, to have sustained a laro-e 
population; North Providence would hardly have quadrupled her pop- 
ulation in eighty-six years, had she depended on agriculture alone. 
The explanation of tiie large growth of our town is found in the 
establishment of manufacturing within our borders. I propose now, 
therefore, to give a brief sketch of the early attempts in that 
department. 

I have mentioned the arrival of Joseph Jenks here upwards of 
two centuries ago. A man so energetic and enterprising as he, would 
not be slow to use the power which the falls of Pawtucket supply. In 
a case brought before the Circuit Court nearly forty years ago, Judge 
Story, in giving his decision, rehearsed certain facts that had been 
established in the trial. Speaking of the dams on the Pawtucket 
river, he says : 

"The lower dam was built as early as the year 1718, by the proprietors 
on both sides of the river, and is indispensable for the use of these mills 
respectively. There was ])reviously an old dam on the western side extend- 
ing about three-quarters of the way across the river, and a separate dam 
for a saw mill on the east side. The lower dam was a substitute for both. 
About the year 1714, a canal was dug, or an old channel widened and 
cleared on thg western side of the river ; beginniny: at the river a few rods 
above the lower dam, and running round the west end thereof until it 
emptied into the river, about ten rods below the same dam. It has been 
long known by the name of Sergeant's Trench, and was originally cut 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 25 

for the passage of fisli up and down the river. But liaviug wholly failed 
for this purpose, about the year 1780, an anchor mill and dam were built 
across it by the then proprietors of the land; and between that peri(jd and 
the year 1790, several other dams and mills were built over the same, and 
since that period more expensive mills have been liuilt tlicre. In 17'J2 
another dam was built across the river at a place above the head of the 
trench, and almost twenty rods above the lower dam ; and the mills on the 
upper dam, as well as those on Sergeant's Trench, arc now sup])lied with 
water by proper flumes, &c., from the pond formed by the upper dam." 

I forbear to quote farther from the opinion of Judge Storv, fellow 
citizens. Enough that I remind you that the trial just referred to 
showed that early in the last century, jjerhaps indeed during the pre- 
vious century, dams had been built at the Pawtucket Falls. Already 
the buzzing of machinery, the roar of hammers, and the stir of men, 
prophesied of the business that should make this region an important 
manufacturing centre, within a century or more. But it is amusing, not 
to say mortifying, to see how slow hundreds are to discern the sources 
of their thrift. The falls at Pawtucket, and the dams that had been 
built, were alike voted a nuisance by scores of the dwellers by the 
Blackstone.* Those obstructions hindered the free mio-ration of shad 
and alewives to what is now Woonsocket. Accordingly, the General 
Assembly, in 17G1, authorized a lottery, to raise fifteen hundred pounds, 
old tenor, for the purpose of making a passage around Pawtucket Falls. 



*The Blackstone river rises in Massacliiisetts, north of Worcester. It takes its name 
from William Blackstone, tlie first i)ermanent settler of our little State. He was a 
clergjnnau of the Church of England, but early left his native laud on account of non- 
conformity. He was the first English resident of Boston, the early settlers of Charlestomi 
finding him already occupying the peninsula. After residing there a few years, he came 
down to this region, and settled in what is now Cumberlajid, E. I. The. reason of his 
seeking a home, for the second time, in the wilderness, is quaintly stated by himself : " 1 
left England to get fi-om under the power of the lord bishops, but in America I am fallen 
under the power of the lord brethren." The river, from its source to the Pawtucket Falls, 
bears the name of the Blackstone. Below the falls, it receives the name of the Pawtucket. 
4 



26 ■ CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

" so that fish of almost every kind, who choose fresh water at certain 
seasons of the year, may pass with ease." Of course this legislation 
was proper enough, bating the lottery ; but twelve years later, the 
General Assembly went a ste[) farther, and passed an act making it 
lawful for any one to break down or blow up the rocks at I'awtucket 
Falls, to "let fish pass up;" and "the said river" was "declared a 
public river." Had the men who jjctitioned for such an act but pos- 
sessed power propoi-tioned to their wishes, shad might have freely 
spawned at Woonsockct ; l)ut Samuel Slater had probably never 
turned his steps toward our town. 

The enterprising family, of whom I have already spoken, continued 
to carrv on the iron business in its various liranches. The descendants, 
for generations, of these men trod in the footsteps of their ancestors. 
Muskets were manufactured for several of the militia companies of the 
colony, as early as 177;"), by Stephen Jenk8,* of this town. Indeed, 
the iron bilsiness made Pawtucket famous in a wide circuit. This was 
the principal workshop of Providence for anchors, screws, and other 
heavy articles, that needed a water power and trip-hammers, which 
were lackinn- in the mother town. Among the men who came to 



» Through tlie kindness of Gen. Olney Arnold, the present treasurer of onr town, 1 
have been permitteit to examine the early treasurers' books. I find that one of tliose 
officers occasionally makes a nienioranilum on his pages. I copy the following obituary: 

"Died at Pawtucket, in North I'rovidence, on Sunday, Nov. Ifitli, A. D. l.tOO, Capt- 
Stephen Jenks, in the 7ith year of his age. He was descended from a long line of 
respectable ancestors, and has left a disconsolate widow, and sixty descendants to the fourth 
generation. He was a kind husband, an indulgent parent, and an obliging neighlior. The 
widow, the orphan, and others in distress were partakers of his benevolence. He was a 
man of sound judgment and integrity, and had been a member of the General Assembly 
many years. He was a zealous patriot of 177.5, and im]iai-tially presided at most of the 
public business of his town. During his last sickness he was exceedingly calm, and per- 
fectly resigned to the will of God. His remains were attended to the meeting house on 
Tue-sday, where a pertinent discourse was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Hurley, of Cambridge; 
after wliich they were decently interred." 

I have also been permitted to read two or three manu.script letters of Capt. jENKs's, 
written in 17!);), giving an extended genealogy of his family. Prom him comes the tradi- 
tion of his ancestor's coming hither in 1053. 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 27 

increase the activity of Nortii rrovidence was Oziel Wilkinson. He 
had resided, for years, in Sinithfiekl, and done a great deal of work \\)x 
tiie merchants of Providence. Obtaining his stock kirgely fr^nt that 
town, it seemed more convenient to transfer his business to the neigh- 
borhood of Pawtucket Falls ; but as the British long held possession of 
the southern part of the State, and the capture of Providence seemed 
not unlikel}', his customers advised him not to remove, lest his sho[)s 
be destroyed by some marauding party. \\\i\\ tiie coming of peace, 
however, all danger seemed dispelled, and ]\Ir. Wilkinsox removed to 
this place. Mr. W. had five sons, all blacksmiths, and father and sons, 
with characteristic energy, enlarged the business of the town. They 
speedily availed themselves of a part of the water power, commenced 
making anchors, and extended their operations to other departments- 
At a very early date, the senior Wilkixsox manufactured cut nails; 
and is supposed to have been the first manufacturer of those useful 
articles in any land. 

For a period, Daniel Wilkinson was foreman of his father's shop, 
and years afterwards he and his brother, David Wilkinson, begun an 
independent establishment. All the younger Wilkinsons, indeed, were 
like their father, men of energy and business capacity. One of them, 
in a few years, turned his steps to Connecticut, and won eminence and 
thrift there. The other four long continued to promote the prosperity 
of the town of their adoption. Abkaham and Isaac Wilkixsox 
formed one firm, David and Daniel another, and largely expanded 
the business of manufacturing iron. Here, screws were made ; and for 
years, the heavy oil presses of Nantucket and New Bedford were prin- 
cipally supplied from the shops of the Wilkinsons. Here, in 1794, 
was cast the iron for the draw of tiie Camliridge bridge ; here were 
made the patterns, here cast the wheels for the first canal of the conn- 
try. Of the younger Wilkinsons, David had rare inventive genius. 
His was one of those minds fertile in expedients, and teeming with 



28 CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

contrivances to abridjje toil, and jjive man laro-er control over the 
material world. I have read one of his letters published in the Trans- 
actions of the Rhode Island Society for the Encouragement of Domestic 
Industry; and could not but notice the truth of the poet's saying, "the 
child is father to the man."' In speaking of a new screw-machine, 
which he had invented as early as 17U4, he describes it as on the 
principle of the gauge or sliding-lathe, " the perfection of which," says 
he, " consists in that most faithful agent, grainty, making the joint, and 
that almighty, perfect number, three, which is harmony itself. I was 
young when I learnt that principle. I had never seen my grandmother 
putting a chip under a three-legged milking-stool ; but she always had 
to put a chip under a four-legged table to keep it steady. I cut screws 
of all dimensions by this machine, and did them perfectly." A great 
many other lads had doubtless seen their mothers or grandmothers use 
a three-legged stool, but how few had noticed the steadiness, or the 
great mechanical invention based on the firmness of the tripod ! But I 
shall have occasion ajiain to reter to the 'inventive skill of David 
Wilkinson. 

I have slightly disregarded chronological order, but it is proper now 
to speak of the successful establishment of cotton manufacturing in this 
town. The early history of attempts to spin cotton by water power, in 
our land, may be briefly told. Our coxuitry had passed through the 
Kevolutionary War, and emerged from it fettered by debt. Importations 
from foreign countries threatened to impoverish us still more, and 
thoughtful capitalists and skillful mechanics were trying to relieve us 
fi'om the necessity of dependence on foreign looms. In Worcester and 
Bevei-ly, in Massachusetts, in Providence and other places, in our State, 
experiments were making prior to 1790, to solve the problem, whether 
we could spin, in America, the cotton needed for our own use. MoSES 
Bkown, of Providence, had purchased a spinning-frame, with which 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 29 

others liad fiiiled to succeed, and removed it, with certMiii other iiia- 
chines, to this place, and attached tlieni to a water-wheel. In vain, 
however. Success seemed as unlikely by the falls of the Pawtucket as 
elsewhere. At this juncture, — near the close of the year 1789, — Samuel 
Slater, a young English artisan, arrived in New York. He had been 
induced to leave his native land, by seeing in the newspapers what 
bounties were giving, what encouragements were proffered, particularly 
in Pennsylvania, for machines for manufacturing cotton. He left Eng- 
land, however, by stealth. From the very settlement of our country, 
there had been a jealousy, on the part of English manufacturers, against 
every attempt of the colonists to provide for anything but their simplest 
wants. Statesmen were willing, nay, desirous, that tlie colonies should 
furnish the raw materials for the use of the artisan in the fatherland ; 
for that would relieve Great Britain of dependence on foreign countries ; 
but tolerated nothing further. Parliament was constantly seeking to 
repress every branch of industry that might make the colonists rivals 
of their trans-atlantic fellow-subjects. The war of the Eevolution sev- 
ered the political dependence of the colonies on England, but British 
statesmen and manufacturers were alike resolved that it should not 
;sunder the commercial dependence. For this reason, harsli laws were 
enacted, forbidding any person, under pain of forfeiture, to carry or send 
from the United Kingdom, models, ])atterns, or machinery, that would 
be likely to aid a young people in setting up a new branch of bu.siuess. 
Nay, artisans themselves were liable to detention. Under these circum- 
stances, young Slater neither dares inform his family of his destination, 
nor take with him patterns, drawings, or -memoranda, that can betray 
his occupation, or reveal his plans. 

He arrives in New York, and engages with a manufacturing com- 
pany. The water power of that neighborhood, however, does not satisfy 
him. The business wherein he was employed seems inferior and un- 
promising, compared with that to which he had been accustomed ; and 



30 CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

tluit CrOD wlio directs man's steps, and prepares the heart, tlirew hhii 
into contact witii the captain of a Providence packet, and he informs 
liim of the efforts that MoSES Brown is making to introduce the 
manufacture of cotton. Witli characteristic promptness, the young man 
writes to Mr. Brown. In the business of cotton spinning, he says, "I 
Hatter myself that I can give tlie greatest satisfaction, in making ma- 
chinerv, making good yarn, either for stockings or twist, as any that is 
made in Enghmd : as I have had opportunity, and an oversight of Sir 
Richard Arkwright's works, and in Mr. Strut's mill, for upwards 
of eight years." 

Mr. Brown replies that he has transferred the business to Ai.my 
ct Brown. He candidly informs the young man that he fears that 
they can hai'dly give him such encouragement as he could receive in his 
present place of business. "■ As the frame we have," he writes, " is the 
first attempt of the kind that has been made in America, it is too 
imperfect to aflbrd much encouragement ; we hardly know what to say 
to thee ; l>ut if thou thought thou couldst perfect and conduct them to 
profit, if thou wilt come and do it, thou shalt have all the profits made 
of them, over and above the interest of the money they cost, and the 
wear and tear of them. We will find stock and be rejjaid in yarn as 
we may agree, for six months. ^\.nd this we do for the information thou 

can give, if fully acquainted with the business We have secured 

only a temporary water convenience, l)ut if we find the business profi- 
table, can perpetuate one thnt is convenient If thy present situa- 
tion does not come up to what thou wishest, and, from thy knowledge 
of the business, can be ascertained of the advantages of the mills, so 
as to come and work ours, and have the credit as well as advantage of 
perfecting the first water-mill in America, we should be glad to engage 
thy care so long as they can be made profitable to both, and we can 
agree." 

This letter, from which I have been quoting, was dated " Provl- 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 31 

dence, 10th 12tli month, 1789." Soon after, Mr. Slater conies to 
Providence : and hite in tliat year, or early in 1790, is taken to tlie 
village of Pawtucket, in this town, to see the machines. He does not 
view them with admiration by any means. Says Mr. Biiowx, "When 
Samuel saw the okl machines, he felt down-hearted with disappoint- 
ment, and shook his head, and said, ' These will not do ; they are good 
for nothing in their present condition, nor can they be made to answer.'" 
Fortunately, however, fellow-citizens, the spirit of botli these men was 
too resolute to succumb to trifling difficulties. After various disappoint- 
ments, it was proposed that Mr. Slater should erect the series of 
machines termed the Arkwright patents. He accedes to the proposi- 
tion on one condition, namely, that "a man should be furnished for him 
to work on wood, who should be put under bonds neither to steal the 
patterns nor disclose the nature of the works. " Under my proposals," 
says he, " if I do not make as good yarn as they do in England, I 
will have nothing for my services, but will throw the whole of what 1 
have attempted over the bridge." 

The shop in which Mr. Slater begun the manufacture of his ma- 
chines stood on what was then called Quaker lane, now Pleasant street. 
The mechanic employed to assist him was Mr. Sylvanus 13rown, 
father of our enterprising fellow-citizen, Capt. James S. Brown. That 
shop is now the salesroom of Mr. Beers, and adjoins his baker's shop. 
Everything was managed with the greatest secrecy. Shutters were put 
on the front windows, and the back windows were shielded by blinds. 
The various patterns were made of wood, all the parts being first con- 
structed of that material, to see whether they could be made to work. 
The motive power was furnished by a wheel, which was turned by an 
aged negro by the name of Prime, or, fully. Primus Jenks, as he 
had once been a slave of one of the Jenkses. There was no fear that 
he would pilfer their patterns, or disclose their plans. MosES Brown 
visited the shop every day, to witness the progress making. In due 



o'i CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

time, Mr. Slatek built a water-frame of twenty-four spindles, tAvo 
curding-maciiines, and tlie drawing and roping-frames necessary to pre- 
pare fur the spinning ; and soon after added a frame of forty-eight 
spindles. When all the preliminary work was done, everything was 
found to work satisfactoiily but the carder. After vainly tryin"- to 
remedy that, Mr. Slater was almost in despair. The most awonizincr 
thought with him was not, however, that he had failed, but that the 
men who had confided in him would think him an impostor. He even 
contem]ilated running aw^ay, but his companion dissuaded him from so 
rash a step. " Have you ever seen one of these carders work in your 
own country ? " asks Mr. Sylvanus Brown, looking him steadily in 
the eye. " Yes," was the prompt reply. " Then it can be made to 
work here.'' As Mr. B. was waiting, a few minutes, for his dinner one 
day, he took up a pair of hand-cards that his wife had Keen using, and 
examined the shape of the teeth. He saw that they were bent some- 
what ditferentlv from those in the machine, and the thought suffffests 

' D DO 

itself, " by altering the shape of the teeth, we can surmount the diffi- 
culty." Mr. Browx promptly tried the experiment, and the machine 
worked. 

From the patterns thus made, such castings as were needed were 
supplied from Mr. Wilkinson's shop, and the machines were set up 
in a small building then standing on what was then the southwest 
abutment of the bridge over the Pawtucket. That shop no longer 
stands, for it was swept away by the angry surges of the Blackstone, 
in the great freshet of 1807. Operations were begun in the fall of 
1790, or the winter of 1791. " I was then in my tenth year," says 
Mr. Smith Wilkinson, " and went to work with him, and began 
attending the breaker. The mode of laying the cotton was by hand, 
taking up a handful, and pulling it apart with both hands, shifting it 
all into the right hand, to get the staple of the cotton straight, and fix 
the handful, so as to hold it firm, 'and then applying it to the surface 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 33 

of the breaker, moving the hand liorizontall}' across the card to anil 
tVo, until the cotton was fully prepared." 

I hai'dly need remind you, however, that in prejiai-ino- even this 
machinery, Mr. Slatek encountered no trifling obstacles. Skilled 
mechanics of the class needed for his work were entirely lacking ; 
drawings, models, patterns, he had none ; his sole reliance was on a 
retentive memory, a determined will, and the help of God. He was 
fortunate, however, in the home that he fcmnd. He went to board in 
the family of Oziel Wilkixson ; from him and from his ingeni(»us 
son he doubtless received many a profitable hint; from Mrs. Wilkin- 
son he had genial sympathy and motherly care ; and from a daughter, 
who afterwards became Mrs. Slater, coilperation and tender love. 
Only the Omniscient One knows the mighty aid which that house- 
hold aflbrded the otherwise lonely stranger, who was striving to trans- 
plant to the shores of the Pawtucket the perfected invention of England. 
In the restricted quarters of that rude mill, Mr. Slater continued his 
operations for about twenty months, at the end of which time several 
thousand pounds of yarn had accumulated on the hands of himself and 
partners, notwithstanding every effort to sell and weave it. AYhen, 
indeed, five hundred j)ounds had accumulated, Moses Brown writes to 
Mr. S., " Thee must shut down thy gates, or thee will spin up all my 
farms into cotton yarn." Obstacles had, meanwhile, been successfully 
surmounted ; Arkavright's machines had been reproduced ; mechanics 
had been trained ; the problem had been solved ; the waters of the 
Pawtucket were made subservient to a new kind of manufacture ; and 
the spinning of cotton by water was acclimated in the United States. 
Who has despised the day of small things ? What an expansion of 
industry was destined to flow from that successful enteri)rise I Well did 
President Jackson say to Mr. Slater, some forty odd years afterwards, 
" I understand you taught us how to spin, so as to rival Great Britain 
in her manufactures ; you set all these thousands of spindles at work. 



34 CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

u'liieli I have been delighted to view, and which have made so many 
happy by a kicrative employment." " Yes, sir," was the modest reply ; 
" I suppose that I gave out the psalm, and they have been singing to 
tlie tune ever since." Happily, fellow-citizens, it is a psalm whose 
singing brings profit, as well as pleasui-e. 

The experiment had succeeded in that old shop, and a new mill was 
erected. The building so long known by the name of Slater's Mill, 
and which has, for several years, been occupied by the Pawtucket Hair 
Cloth Com})any, was built in 1793. During the same year, mills were 
reared by Oziel Wilkinson and Thomas Arnold ; the former was 
a slitting mill, and the latter, a flouring mill. Indeed, the claim can be 
justly put forth that tlie first flouring mill in the State was erected in 
this town. 

I have already spoken, in brief, of the extent to which the manufac- 
turing of iron was carried on, in North Providence, at this early period. 
In a letter written by MosKs Brown, near the close of 1791, he says : 
" The manufacture of iron into blistered steel, equal in quality to Eng- 
lisii, lias been begun, within about a year, in North Providence, and is 
carried on by Oziel Wilkinson. I thought of speaking also of pig 
and bar iron, slitting it into nail-rods, rolling into hoops and {whites, 
making it into spades and shovels, hot and cold nails, anchors, &c., all 
in this district." 

Another interesting fiict may be named. In speaking of the inventive 
genius of David Wilkinson, I mentioned that I should have occasion 
to speak of him again. About the year 1791, there was a man living 
in Providence named Elljah Okmsbee. He was born in Rehoboth, 
but had worked, fin- a season, near Albany. While there, his observa- 
tion of the difficulty of navigating the Hudson by sails alone, led him 
to think of steam as a propelling power. While employed at Cranston, 
repairing a large steam engine used for pumping water from an ore bed. 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 35 

he was called on by Mr. David Wilkinson, and conununicated to 
him the idea of a steamboat. He offered to furnish the boat, ])rovl(lcd 
Mr. W. would provide the engine. The proposition was accepted ; Mr. 
Wilkinson went home, made his patterns, cast and bored the cylinder, 
suggested two plans of paddles, and the boat was finished. At a retired 
place called Winsor's cove, about three miles and a half from Provi- 
dence, Ormsbee completed his arrangements, and, on one pleasant 
evening, made his first trip to Providence. On the following dav, lif 
went in his steamboat to Pawtucket, to show her to his friends ; and 
the two ingenious mechanics exhibited her between the two bridges. 
"After our frolic was over," says Mr. Wilkinson, in writing of the 
matter more than half a century afterwards, " being short of funds, we 
hauled the boat up and gave it over." It is fair to claim that, had the 
Pawtucket been a longer stream, so that steam had been as imjiortant 
for it as for the Hudson, or had some discerning capitalist been ready 
to afford the pecuniary aid needful for testing and perfecting the inven- 
tion, tlie cliaplet that adorns the head of Fulton might have been 
woven for the brows of Wilkinson and Ormsbee. And the Paw- 
tucket Kiver and Narragansett Bay would have had an additional claim 
to fame. 

In 1797, Mr. David Wilkinson perfected his slide-lathe, and on 
the following year obtained a patent for it. As, however, the machine 
business was then in its infancy, but little profit flowed to the ingenious 
inventor. Before the time arrived for its extensive use, the original 
patent ran out, and Mr. W. being occupied with other business, and 
planning other contrivances, neglected to secure a renewal. Fifty years 
after the original patent was granted. Congress voted him ten thousand 
dollars as a partial remuneration " for the benefits accruing to the public 
service from the use of the principle of the gauge and sliding-lathe, of 
which he was the inventor, now in use in the workshops of the govern- 



•36 CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

ment at tho ditfurent national arsenals and armories." The Senate 
Committee on Military Affair.^, who recommended the above-named 
appropriation, was composed of Messrs. EuSK, of Texas ; Ca8S, of 
Michigan: Davis, of Mississipjii : Dix, of New York, and Benton, 
of Missouri. 

This enterprisiiiLj man was not onl^r occupied with his own private 
business, but was interested with others in more extensive operations. 
At a furnace in this town, owned by him in connection with other 
parties, cannon were cast solid and bored out by water power, early in 
the century. " It was then the current conversation, that to Pawtucket 
belonged the creilit of the first cannon cast solid in the world. They 
were bored by making the drill or borer stationary, and having the 
cannon revolve against the drill." A paragraph from a familiar letter 
of Mr. Wilkinson's, written yeai-s afterwards, gives a succint state- 
ment of the business activity of North Providence, between the years 
1800 and 1829: 

"We built machinery to go to almost every part of the country : — to 
Ponifret and Killingly, Conn. : to Hartford, Vt. ; to Waltham, Norton, 
Kaynham, Plymouth, Halifax, Plympton, Middleboro', and other places in 
Massachusetts : for Wall & Wells, Trenton, N. J. ; for Union & Gray, 
on the Patapsco ; for the Warren factories, on the Gunpowder, near Balti- 
more ; to Tarboro' and Martinbnrgh, N. C. ; to two factories in Georgia ; 
to Louisiana; to Pittsburg; to Delaware; to Virginia, and other ^^laces. 
Indeed. Pawtucket was doing something for almost every j)artof the conn- 
try." 

In 179!), the second cotton mill was begun. This was reared by 
Mr. OziEL Wilkinson and his three sons-in-law, Samuel Slater, 
Timothy Greexe and William Wilkinson, and was built on the 
Massachusetts side of the river. I have named Mr. Greene, as a son- 
in-law of OziEL Wilkinson. He had been previously engaged in the 
manufacture of leather. His tannery occupied the site of what are now 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 37 

called Grreenc's mills. Indeed, his original Imsinoss was tlic inanuf'icturc 
of shoes, and, even after he gave his attention to tanning, he eniploj'od 
several men in the former business. As illusti-ating the extent of his 
operations in tanning, the incidental statement of one of his workmen 
may be quoted : " We ground two hundred cords of bark per year, 
while I worked for Mr. Greene. We tanned one thousand hides a 
year for him, and fulled fifteen hun(h'ed for otiiers." Mr. Greexk'8 
activity contributed to the prosperity of our town, and his descendants 
have continued to do their share of the business of this place. 

About this time another kind of business was begun. There was 
an ingenious clock-maker residing here, by the name of J. Field. He 
commenced the casting of brass in the anchor-shop of Mr. Oziel 
Wilkinson. 

Another important branch of business claims at least a passing- 
notice. It was that of sliip-buildiug. This was carried on extensively 
on both sides of the Pawtucket Kiver. In the Sergeant's Trench case, 
Geokge Robinson, who plied his business in North Providence, testi- 
fied, that between the years 17'J4 and 1805, he ])uilt seventeen vessels 
of from eighty to two hundred and eighty tons burden. He employed 
from ten to twenty ship carpenters. In the same case, Thomas Arnold 
testified, that he was concerned in building seven or eight vessels. Other 
parties were also erajdoyed in this business, and all of them had the 
iron-work done in the shop of the Wilkinsons, and obtained their 
anchors from the vai'ious anchor shops of tliis town. 

The above facts I obtain from an interesting abstract of the testi- 
mony in the case just spoken of, which is now in the possession of 
Samuel Greene, of AYoonsocket, who was himself an enterprising- 
artisan in this place, years ago. And in glancing hastily over that 
volume, I find evidence of the existence of other kinds of industry. 
One witness speaks, at one time, of having worked in a chocolate mill. 
He was also employed, in 1797 and 17U8, in the lower anchor shop. 



38 CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

While there, he was engaged in welding gun-barrels and making scythes. 
In those two years he welded fourteen hundred gun-barrels, and assisted 
in making forty dozen scythes. These may seem like trifling details, 
but before machinery was perfected, as has since been done, they 
bespeak activity and enterprise here. In the beginning of the present 
century, also, two manufactories of snuff were in operation. 

For years, manufacturing was mainly confined to the village of Paw- 
tucket, in our town. Near the close of the Kevolutionaiy War, indeed, 
a lime-kiln was in operation near the present residence of Lemuel 
Angell, Esq. ; but, after a while, the (juarrj- whence the limestone 
was obtained was exhausted, and tjie business was given up. The 
employment of the residue of the inhabitants was mainly agricultural. 
Indeed, there is reason to believe that more farming was done in our 
town, about the commencement of the present century, than now. Every 
farmer, sixty years ago, raised his own rye and corn, and provided the 
entire food of his household from his own soil. Tobacco' was also 
reared to some extent. Tracts are uow covered with forests, which, 
half a century ago, were meadows. 

The time came, however, when other parts of the town were to 
engage in manufacturing. In 1807, Judge Lyman and others bought 
a j^rivilege on the Woonasquatucket River, and erected a mill. In later 
years, along the western part of the town, the Greystone mill, the 
Allendale, Centredale, Manton, Dyerville, and the Atlantic De Laine 
mills have been constructed. And it may be interesting to note the 
increase of wealth, in our town, from the introduction of new forms of 
industry. In 181"), Lemuel Angell, Esq., was collector of taxes. At 
that time, from what is now Olneyville to Manton, there were but 
five estates taxed, and the whole amount assessed was fifteen dollars. 
During the past year, the tax of the Atlantic De Laine works alone 
was nearly four thousand dollars. As indicating the same fact, another 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 39 

incident may be mentioned. About the year ISIO, Ozief, Wilkinson 
and his son Abraham were estimating the expenses of the town, for 
the ensuing year. As they were both influential politicians, they were 
making arrangements in advance for tlie annual town meetino-. With 
a piece of chalk they marked, on the counter of their store, the sums 
supposed to be needed for the various departments, to wit, for highway 
tax, support of poor, &c. As common schools were not then estab- 
lished by law, there was no sum specified for them. As they added 
up the column, they found the amount to be about eight hundred dol- 
lars. And the elder Wilkinson energetically exclaimed, " It will not 
answer, Abrahaji ; we must cut some of these figures down. The 
town of North Providence will not stand such a tax as that." Times 
have changed, fellow-citizens. This year, a tax is assessed of seventy 
thousand dollars ; and the only question debated was, " Shall we raise 
this sum, or a larger one ? " 

For years, the mode of weaving cloth was by hand-looms. The 
cotton was first sent out from the various shops and mills to be picked. 
This involved much waste, delay, and expense. Four cents per pound 
was paid for picking, and the owners complained that wliat was stolen 
by the various families, to whom tlie cotton was entrusted, doubled this 
sum. In addition to this, after the yarn was spun, it must be sent out 
to be woven into the various kinds of cloth. From six to twelve cents 
per yard was the current price. Of course the proprietors of mills 
were anxious to be rid of such inconvenience. In a few years, a ijicker 
was devised ; and, about the year lHj4, weaving by power-looms was 
commenced. The first loom used in this town was J. Thorpe's, which 
was, if I am rightly Informed, an upright loom. In 1816, however, the 
Scotch loom was introduced into Lyman's mill. It was brought to the 
notice of Judge Lyman by Mr. William Gilmore. The loom was 
made under the insjjection of Mr. G. himself, and, at first, failed to 



40 CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

work. Judge Ly.max, of course, thinks of David AVilkinsox when 
any difficulty ai'ises, and ]Mr. W. goes over to see the machine. He 
quickly discovers tiie trouble, suggests a means of removing it, and, in 
due time, the loom docs its work. Aranufacturers, in other parts of the 
country, soon hear tliat a loom is working successfully in North Provi- 
dence, and flock from every quarter to see the wonder. All gladly 
purchase from INIr. G. the right to use his pattern ; and, to the present 
time, the same loom, with trifling change, is used in all the cotton mills 
in our land. 

I have not time, fellow-citizens, to specify the period when other 
mills were erected in our town. My object has been, mainly, to men- 
tion the earliest essays in manufacturing here. Where a branch of 
business, largely carried on elsewhere in our country, has been estab- 
lished here, there seems little to challenge attention. But before I 
dismiss this part of my subject, I may properly enumerate some of the 
important inventions that have been made, during the pi'esent century, 
in our town. I ought to have mentioned that Mr. GiLiiOHE introduced 
a dresser from a Scotch invention. In 1822, Mr. Asa Arnold invented 
the diflPerential speeder. In 1823, Pitcher & Gale invented a geared 
cone speeder. In 1S24, Pitcher & Gale having dissolved, our 
ingenious fellow-citizen, Mr. James S. Brown, became associated with 
the former in business, their shop being on the eastern side of the 
Pawtucket. In 18o8, [Mr. Brown invented a machine for boring pas- 
sage for rover and speeder flyers. In 1842, Mr. Broavn dissolved 
partnership with Mr. Pitcher, and. in 1849, commenced the erection 
of the spacious building which he now occupies, in our town. In 1852, 
he took out a patent for turning irregular forms ; in 1857, a patent for 
improvement in speeder. In 18G8, he obtained a patent for grinding 
files, and another, for improvement in fui-nace for hardening files. 

I am aware that I am here treading on delicate grovuid. My edu- 
cation and mode of life have not given me knowledge of mechanical 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 41 

Inventions. I know that I am not presenting an cxliaustive account of 
the important inventions which have given Pawtncket fame. A hiwyer, 
of hirge experience in patent cases, lately remarked, tliat it is truly 
surprising, in investigating the history of valuable inventions, to sec how 
many of them you can trace back to Pawtncket. I stop my account, 
therefore, here, by remarking that important improvements in the manu- 
facture of hair-cloth have been made in this town, and that during the 
present year, E. O. Pottek has obtained a patent for an improvement 
in the mode of cutting files. 

But though I have closed my account of inventions, I am not pre- 
cluded from remarking that, for years, calico printing has been exten- 
sively carried on near the Woonasquatucket Piver. The establishment 
owned by Eichmond & Co. has proved a centre around which other 
branches of manufacttiring have largely clustered. And still another 
kind of business deserves a passing notice, from the largeness of its 
increase. In 1834, Lewis Fairijrother, Esq., came here to establish 
himself. He began the manufacture of picker-string and lace leather. 
At that time, there was but one other manufactory of a like character 
in the country, and that was conducted on a very small scale. So light 
was the demand for the commodity, that the proprietor of the other 
establishment began with tubs alone in preparing his leather. Mr. F. 
was more enterprisinof and far-si iilited. He had the hardihood to beoin 
with a vat or two. Those who see, from day to day, the activity of 
ilr. F.'s successors in business, and of their rivals in this neighborhood, 
need no other assurance of Mr. Faikbrother's forecast. In 1850. 
Messrs. Corliss & Nightingale moved from Providence to our own 
town. Their establishment, too, has proved a nucleus around which 
other and different kinds of manufacturing have gathered. The prox- 
imity of that neighborhood to the busy jjart of Providence invites 
capital from the city. Indeed, a stranger, ignorant of tlie boundary 
lines, knows not where the city ends, and the town begins. 



42 CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

I have tliiis completed, fellow-citizens, what I designed to say of the 
industrial history of our town. I cannot close this branch of my sub- 
ject, however, without a word as to our indebtedness to the men whose 
energy and industry brought such activity and thrift to our region. 
We have borrowed, from the Greek language, the word aristocrat. Too 
often the term is employed to describe a mushroom class, who are sub- 
sisting on the wealth which their ancestors won, and, by their conceit 
and disdain, are trying to fasten a reproach on the class fi-om whom 
their ancestors sprung. Inherited riches are their sole passport to emi- 
nence. Among the Greeks, it is said that the class who styled them- 
selves the aristoi, that is, the best, were generally least entitled to that 
term. They were lawless, reckless, tyrannical, and frequently disturbed 
the peace of their communities by their insufferably disorderly conduct. 
It is our boast as a people, that we have no order of nobility. As 
some one said of Cincinnati, " the democracy there consists of those 
who now kill hogs for a living ; the aristocracy, of those whose fathers 
killed hogs." Our true aristocracy are those who, springing from the 
laboring class, by sheer force of character and untiring toil, work their 
way to eminence and thrift, and who never forget the people from whom 
they spring. And if to this capacity and energy, they but add high- 
toned principle, and seek but to make the conununity nobler, as well as 
richer, they have a higher patent of nobility than any monarch can 
bestow. Jefferson is reported to have said that that man is a public 
benefactor who makes two blades of grass grow where but one grew 
before. And has not the artisan who acclimates a useful branch of 
industry, the inventor who perfects a new machine, and thus introduces 
a new branch of employment, or provides comforts that render life 
easier, or home more dear, an equal claim to be regarded as a bene- 
factor ? As local benefactors, our Jenkses, our Broavns, our Slaters, 
our Wilkinsons, our Greenes, of past generations, (it Avere invidious 
to speak of the living,) may challenge the love of tlieir successors. 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 43 

How much dill they do to give permanence to society ! How many did 
they help cHng around the okl homestead ! How much thrift and con- 
tent were they instrumental in fostering ! Our town owes them a debt 
of o-ratitude. We share, fellow-citizens, in the benefits they conferred. 
"Other men labored, and we have entered into their labor." Inscribe 
their names high on the roll of honor, and let their memory be ever 
crreen. But let us not forget that there are business successors of these 
men, whose energy, and enterprise, and faith, have established new 
branches of industry in this place. Too often men fiiil of justice from 
their contemporaries. Envy blinds multitudes to their real merits. Let 
us be prompt to recognize worth and energy and skill. If a CoELiSS 
introduce among us the manufacture of steam engines ; a Jeffees, that 
of the fire-engine ; a Dextee cling worthily to his knitting-cotton, 
wherein he has won a national fame ; if a Beoavn wield his influence 
to introduce among us file manufacturing: if he make inventions, and 
transplant branches of industry that swell our population, and increase 
our wealth, let us rejoice in whatever prosperity they win. In their 
success we are all interested. No farmer that brings a dozen eggs to 
market ; no landlord that has even a cottage to let ; no laborer seeking 
employment; but that is benefited by the thrift of our citizens. We 
constitute one body, and if one member be benefited, all the other 
members should rejoice. Let Envy be forever hushed, and Detraction 
be dumb ! 

FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

So long as our town remained a part of Providence, it, of course, 
depended on the fire department of that town to extinguish any serious 
conflagration. And even after North Providence was incorporated, many 
years "elapsed before any steps were taken for organizing a fire company 
here. The General Assembly granted, in February, 1801, a charter for 
a fire district in the village of Pawtucket. A single company was 



44 CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

authorized, to have not exceeding fourteen members. The company was 
not organized, however, till 1803. The first captain was David Wil- 
kinson, and that skillful mechanic built the first fire engine. It lacked 
suction hose, and was filled by hand. From that time to the present, 
as necessity has required, additions have been made to our effective 
force. At the present time, the Pawtncket fire district has three fire 
engines, and one hook and ladder company. This force, in conjunction 
with the fire companies of the town of Pawtuckct, and the village of 
Central Falls, constitutes a very efiicient body in protecting us from the 
devouring element. Our citizens rely confidently on their promptitude, 
courage, and skill, and have never found their confidence misplaced. 

BANKS. 

The first incorporated moneyed institution established in this town 
was the Manufacturei's Bank, which was chartei'ed in 1814, and remained 
here till after the disastrous business revulsion in 1829. Having sus- 
tained heavy losses, it was removed to Providence. The next bank was 
styled the Farmers and Mechanics Bank, and obtained its charter in 
1822 or 1823. The same cause that crippled the Manufacturers Bank 
carried down this institution also. A new company was organized, 
however, upon its forfeited chai-ter, and now does business, in Provi- 
dence, under the name of the Phenix Bank. Of the banks now existing 
in this town, the oldest is the New England Pacific, which, originally 
chartered in 1818, and established in Smithfield, was, after certain 
reverses, transferi'cd to the village of Pawtucket, North Providence. 
The North Providence Bank was chartered in 1834. The Peoples Bank 
was incorporated in 184H. The Slater Bank, in 1855. Dviring the 
current year, a new bank has been organized under the United States 
Banking Laws, called the First National Bank of Pawtucket. The 
Peoples Bank having decided to close its business, most of the cajjital 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 45 

is absorbed by the National Bank. The Slater Bank ha? al^o become 
a nation al institution. 

Of savings institutions, there are two located in tliis town. The 
eldest, thougli incorporated, under the style of The Pawtucket Institution 
for Savings, in 1828, was not organized till 1836. Its present number 
of depositors is 2500 ; amount deposited, $777,000. The Providence 
County Savings Bank was organized in 1853. Its present number of 
dej)ositors is 2060 ; amount deposited, $644,576. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

But few towns in New England possessing a population of thousands, 
can be found, but that boast of having had a newspaper. For years, 
however, from various causes, the country newspapers have been dwind- 
ling in number. The larger city jo.urnals are so easily supplied, tlirough 
the multiplication of railroads, to the citizens of our various villages, 
and the expenses of publication have so largely increased, that merely 
local journals have been allowed to die. It argues, therefore, not a little 
merit in an editor, not a little tact and enterprise in a publisher, when 
a country journal has been successfully maintained in the immediate 
vicinity of a city so large as Providence. The Pawtucket Gazette and 
Chronicle has existed upwards of twenty-eight years. The Chronicle 
was first published in 1825, by John C. Harwood, and was edited 
by William H. Sturtevant. After Mr. H. had published it for 
about two years, he sold it to Randall Meacham. In a short time, 
Mr. M. engaged Samuel M. Fowler as editor, and the two subse- 
quently were associated. Mr. M. afterwards withdrew, and i\Ir. F. 
remained proprietor till his death, in 1832. On his decease, the paper 
passed into the hands of H. & J. E. Rousmaniere, and remained in 
their possession till 1839. At that time, Robert Sherman, Esq., who, 
in connection with Shubael Kinnicutt, Esq., had established the 



46 CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

Pavvtucket Gazette, in 1838, purchased the Clironicle, and united the 
two papers. In January, 1864, Mr. Axsel D. Nickersox purchased 
an interest in tlie establishment, and became associated in the publica- 
tion of the Gazette and Clironicle. Tiic united journal enjoys a large 
local circulation, and can claim the merit of being managed with ability, 
courtesy, and dignity. And it has a merit which too many country 
papers lack ; it is a good local paper. 

BRIDGES OVER THE PAWTUCKET. 

It was many years after the settlement of our town before any bridge 
was erected over the Pawtucket. The water now flowing in the Black- 
stone is more regular in quantity than it was years ago. The building 
of dams on the Blackstone, and the forming of numerous reservoirs, 
make the volume of water much larger in summer than formerly. For 
weeks, in the warmer season of the year, it used to be easy to cross 
the Pawtucket, a few rods below the falls, by fording. In 1713, how- 
ever, a bridge was erected at the joint expense of Massachusetts and 
Rhode Island. In about sixteen years, the bridge became so weak that 
the General Assembly voted to rebuild it, provided Massachusetts would 
bear half the expense. On that colony's delaying, our General Assem- 
bly passed a resolve, advising that the bridge be " demolished, that it 
may not remain as a trap to endanger men's lives." Massachusetts 
appointed a conunittee to assist in this work, and, in 1730, the bridge 
was taken down. A year or two afterwards, the bridge was rebuilt ; 
and, in 1741, was again rebuilt. In 1746, a new boundary line was 
run by authority of ovu- General Assembly, and, from that time to the 
present, Massachusetts refused to pay anything for maintaining a bridge 
over the Pawtucket. 

Originally, the bridge stood a little south of the place which the 
present bridge occupies ; but the advantages of its present site became 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 47 

so manifest that it was chosen. On the loth day of February, 1807, 
about two-thirds of the west end of the bridge was swept away by 
what was well styled the great frexhet : but the bridge was promptly 
rebuilt. In 1817, it was again reconstructed, chiefly at the expense of 
our town. In 1832, it was rebuilt once more, at the expense, in part, 
of the town, — in part, of private subscribers. In 1839, the bridge 
needed rejjairs, and the question was now earnestly put among our 
citizens, " Whose duty is it to maintain this bridge ? '" Investigation 
showed that the obligation rested on the State. In 1843, the old bridge 
was removed, and a new one built. In 1857, this bridge was found 
badly needing repair, and the question arose, " Is it worth while for us 
to be annoyed, every few years, with the work and discomfort of build- 
ing a new bridge ? " This question was answered negatively, and 
measures were at once taken for rearing a stone bridge. Preparations 
were made during the fall and winter of that year : stones were quar- 
ried and shaped ; and, on the Gth of July of the following year, travel 
was suspended on the old bridge, and its destruction commenced. In 
four months the work was completed, and, on the 4th of November, 
1858, the present structure was ojiened for travel. It is at once an 
ornament and a credit to our town ; and, unless shaken by an earth- 
quake, or blown up by malice, will stand long after the youngest child 
who witnessed its dedication has passed away. 

EDUCATION. 

Rhode Island was long behind the other New England States in 
providing for the education of her youth. Providence, indeed, early 
sought to establish free schools ; but the liberality of her wealthier 
citizens was overruled by the short-sightedness of poorer, but more 
sordid men. For nearly two centuries, whatever education was furnished 
to the young was supplied by private schools. In the village of Paw- 



48 CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

tucket, a company was organized, near the close of the last centuiy, to 
build a school-house. In due time, the edifice long-known as the "Red 
School-house " was reared near the site of our town hall. For years, 
this was the only building that could be used for any secular public 
gathering. It was long used by the First Baptist Society, as a kind 
of vestry. Here, the day school was taught ; liere, the Simday school 
long held. At a time when tlie poj)ulation of what is now the town 
of Pawtucket was quite small, as that territory was then in Massachu- 
setts, and the laws of that State required the free education of the 
j'oung, the peojile of that district made a contract with the teacher on 
the Rhode Island side of the Pawtucket, to teach their children ; and 
they were also sent to the Red School-house. Subsequently, a school 
was established by a Mr. Bailey, who taught his pupils in the base- 
ment of his house, not far from the school-house now owned by the 
first district of this town. 

The time came, however, when the citizens of our State jjerceived 
that sound policy, no less than duty, required that as many of our 
youth as possible should receive education. In 1828, common schools 
were established by law. Our town was not slow to j^rovide them ; 
and, from tliat time to the present, the youth of both sexes have been 
permitted to enjoy advantages which only the children of the wealthy 
had enjoyed before. At the present time, there are ten school districts 
in our town. Over two thousand scholars have attended our public 
schools during tiie past year. Eleven thousand dollars have been paid 
for teachers' salaries, in addition to the various sums paid for fuel and 
other expenses bj- tlie dirtercnt districts. Large sums have also been 
paid for private schools, and a proper high-school seems now a neces- 
sity in a town so rich and populous as ours. If not every citizen can 
feel that he owns a portion of our soil, let every one, at least, feel that 
his children have a right in our schools. 

And may I not say, fullow-citlzeus, that still another agent is needed. 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 49 

It has well been said, that the youth, when he leaves the school or the 
college. Instead of having finislied his education, has but just begun it. 
Apart from that instruction which the world can give him, however, he 
still needs the help of books. Talents and aptitude are not confined to 
the wealthy, and many a youth would gladly increase his knowledge 
had he suitable books to read. Some of the cities and larger towns, in 
our country, have public libraries, which are an honor to them. As 
yet, North Providence has nothing of the kind. It were, perhaps, too 
much to hope that some son of our town, resident elsewhere, will 
imitate the liberality of a Peabodv to his native town ; but we have 
rich men in abundance here, who can provide such a library. Will 
not some of them soon g-ive their townsmen reason to thank them ? 

THE PATRIOTIC HISTORY OF OUR TOWN. 

Since the organization of our town, there have been calls, more than 
once, for the more obtrusive virtues of patriotism and manly courage. 
North Providence was incorporated in a brief breathing-place between 
two exhausting wars. The French and Indian War had but just closed, 
and the lurid folds of the storm that was soon to break over our 
devoted land, and to rage for eight weary years, were descried on the 
horizon. Of those whose homes were in this town, and who did bold 
service during the Tvevolutionary Wai', the name of Commodore Hop- 
Kixs stands eminent. Though born in another town, he made, for 
years, this place his abode, and his ashes are mouldering within our 
borders. It were superfiuous to praise him. His valor is a part of the 
heroic heritage of his native State. His name and Perry's, who alike, 
in diflFerent wf.rs, upheld the honor of our country on tlie sea, have 
given our little commonwealth cause to glory in her na\ al warriors. 
For between two and three years, Hopkins was commander-in-chief of 
the navy ; but the bitter sectional feeling in Congi'ess, which operated 



50 CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

so much on many an occasion to the (ii^*paragcnlent of New England 
men, finally succeeded in ousting him from his honorable position. 
But by this act our country sufFei-ed most. Another eminent patriot 
of the Kevolution was Capt. Stephen Olney, a native and resident 
of North Providence. During the entire contest, he remained in the 
service, and signalized his vahn- on many a well-fought field. His 
heroism was specially manifest at Yorktown. Two redoubts were occu- 
pied by the British, which checked the advance of our army, and 
Washingtox decided that they must be carried. To gratify and pro- 
voke national emulation, the task of capturing one was assigned to tiie 
French ; that of tlic other to the Americans. Lafayette and Col. 
Hamilton commanded the American force. In selecting an officer to 
head the storming column, Lafayette made choice of Capt. Olney. 
The company which the latter commanded is said to have been mainly 
composed of North Providence men. Capt. O. well knew the jjeril of 
the undertaking. He calls his company together, and frankly states to 
them the dangerous work to which he had been assigned. "Most of 
us will probably fall, and I want nobody to go, but such as are willino- 
to i-isk their lives. I order no one : let those that are i-eady to volun- 
teer step two paces in front." Listantly every man stepped forward. 

The American forlorn hope was led by Col. GiMATT, a French offi- 
cer. The entire column marched in perfect silence, and with unloaded 
guns, resolved to carry the works at the j)oint of tiic Ijayonet. At the 
distance of two hundred yards from the redoubt, the colunm halted, to 
make the final arrangements for the assault. One man from every 
company of the force was detailed for tlie forlorn hope. Six or eight 
pioneers lead the way ; as many of the forlorn hope come next ; then 
Col. GriMATT, with half a dozen volunteers ; and then the main column 
led by Capt. Olxey himself. The dread silence was broken by a 
heavy discharge of the musketry-, as our force reached the abatis. 
AVhile the pioneers were attempting to cut this away, some of the main 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 51 

force climbed throusli it and entered tlie ditch. Foremost amono- these 
is Ca|)t. Olxey. As soon as a few of his men are collected, he forces 
his way between the palisades, and with a voice that rises above even 
the roar of the conflict, cries out, " Capt. Olney's company — form 
here ! " Tiie audacious order meets a stern response. A gun-shot 
wound in the arm, a bayonet-thrust in the thigh, and another in the 
abdomen, admonish our brave townsman that war is no holiday aifair. 
"With one liand, he presses in his intestines, while with the other he 
parries the bayonets of his foes. -He is obliged to be carried from the 
field, but not until most of the regiment have entered the redoubt, and 
he has given the command to " Form in order." In ten minutes frcjni 
the first fire of the British, the redoubt was in our possession. 

Lafayette praised the gallantry of Olxey in general orders, and 
still more warmly acknowledged it in private correspondence. In 1824, 
when the chivalric Frenchman was makin"; his tour through our land, 
he visited Providence. Among those who gathered to irrcet our nation's 
benefactor, was Capt. Olney. Standing on the steps of the State 
House, he waited the approach of his old commander. As they met. 
though years had weakened the vigor of both, they disregarded cold, 
tame conventionalities, and, like fond brothers, clasped each other in a 
warm embrace. Capt. O. was, for twenty-five years, president of the 
town council, and, for fifteen years, represented North Providence in the 
General Assembly. 

The reputation of those earlier days has been well maintained in 
later times. When Treason reared its unhallowed hand, and struck at 
the life of our common govei-nraent, Ehode Island was not wholly 
unprepared for the struggle that ensued. Many others of the Northern 
States, which have since rendered good service, were destitute of any 
organized militia ; and when Baltimore was in possession of a treach- 
ei-ous mob, and Washington was severed from the loyal North, our 
little State heard the cry for help. Our patriotic governor had been in 



52 CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

intimate correspondence with Gen. Scott ; and, when the exigency 
came, the sokliers of Ehode Island followed close on the heels of those 
of Massachusetts. On the eve of the Eevolution, among other com- 
panies, the North Providence Rangers was chartered. Two or three 
years before the late rebellion commenced, the Pawtucket Light (luard 
was organized. And when volunteers were called for, four years ago, 
to open the road to our national capital, one company, largely composed 
of our own citizens, went from North Providence and Pawtucket. 
When, too, Burxside first showed, on the field of battle, those quali- 
ties which have since won fjr him a national i-eputation, in those llhode 
Island regiments which followed his lead, a Slocum and a Tower. 
from our own town, sealed their devotion to country with their blood. 
And from the day when that first battle of Bull Run was fought, how 
many a son of our town, in fortress and in camp, on the lone picket 
and in the dread fray, has watched and prayed and fought, till victory 
has come, and we can rejoice together in a saved, a free, a regenerated 
country ! 

MORAL HISTORY. 

But another branch of history claims attention. Inventive genius 
and mechanical skill give man control over the material world, but not 
over his own passions. Education may sharpen the intellect, but leave 
man a shrewd savage. Heroism on the battle-field is not incompatible 
with the character of a barbarian. The pen of inspiration has written 
that " righteousness exalteth a nation." Integrity, high moral principle, 
religion, are our safeguard, and constitute the mightiest conservative 
power in a community. A few words, therefore, about our religious 
societies, and other moral agencies, seem in order. 

I preface this account with a reference to one of our present hon- 
ored citizens. Near the close of tlie last century, a lad came to this 
place from a farming town in Massachusetts. Though born in that 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 53 

State, there seemed a kind of poetic justice in his coming to spend 
the larger part of a useful life in this commonwealth. In the deed 
from which I quoted, conveying to Joseph Jenks the land once 
owned by Ezekiel Holliman, it is mentioned that it bordered on 
land owned by a Mr. Dexter. Dr. Benedict suggests that this was 
Gregory Dexter, an eminent clergyman in the Baptist denomina- 
tion, and fourth pastor of the First Baptist Church in Providence. 
This lad was a descendant, in the sixth generation, from Gregory 
Dexter, and bore the name of Xathaniel Gregory B. Dexter. 
The free and easy condition of matters here, in respect to religion, 
jarred rudely with the native sentiment of reverence that he had for 
the Sabbath. He was soon employed by Mr. Slater, in his mill. At 
that time, no regular meetings were held. A small Baptist meeting- 
house was standing, which could be used by any other denomination, 
when the Baptists were not using it, but was not always used. Sun- 
day was observed by some as a holiday, though the sound of the trip- 
hammers and forges could be heard, and young men and old were seen 
playing ball, and occupied in other sports. " Mr. Slater," said the 
■wondering lad, " you don't have any Sabbath here in Rhode Island. 
I don't know what to do." Mr. S., doubtless, felt the truth of the 
boy's words ; and when, a while after, he found seven of the lads 
engaged in his employ, debating whether they should go, on that 
Sabbath-day, to Smithfield, to rob a farmer's orchard, he rightly 
decided to try and shield them from temptation. " Boys," said he, 
" go into my house, and I will give you as many apples as j'ou want, 
and I will keep a Sunday school." That school, commenced in 1799, 
was comj)osed of seven scholars ; its library consisted of three Web- 
ster's Spelling-books ; the branches taught were reading, writing, and 
arithmetic. A year or two ago, Capt, Dexter met the present hon- 
ored governor of Massachusetts, in Boston, and the governor was read- 
ing the inscription on the patriarch's gold-headed cane, which stated 



e 



54 CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

that lie was a scholar in tlii' first Sunday school in America. "Ah I" 
said Gov. Andrew, " I would rather have that distinction than to be 
governor of Massachusetts." Our honored townsman, a link connect- 
in"- us with past generations, with eye scarce dimmed, and natural 
force but slightly abated, while he entertains an honest pride that he 
has, for half a ccnturv or more, prosecuted a business whose fabric has 
won a national reputation, glories still more in his connection with th 
Sabbath school. And whatever men may think, in the estimate of 
angels, that act of ]Mr. Slater's, in assuming, for a season, in addi- 
tion to the cares of a harassing business, the personal charge of 
educatinn; those voutli cast under his care, is his noblest crown. 

It is not unlikely that a Sabbath school was kept prior to this, for 
a few weeks, in this place, but we know nothing of its history, and it 
could have been maintained for but a short time.* Our first cii'cum- 
stantial knowledge comes through Capt. Dexter. After attending that 
school for a time, he was himself employed by Mr. Slater and part- 
ners, to teach, on the Sabbath, the youth employed in the mills. And 
that Sunday school, though designed to furnish simply secular instruc- 
tion, was the germ, in New England, of the mighty agency which all 
sects are now using to impart religious knowledge to the young. 

But I pass to the history of religious societies. 

The first society organized here was a Baptist one. It was incor- 
porated, as a kind of village organization, about the year 1793. A 
small house was erected on the lot now held by that society. The 
ecclesiastical body, or church proper, was fully organized in 1805. Dr. 
Benedict, then a student in Brown University, begun his labors here 
in 1<S04 : and, after finishing his introductory studies, was ordained and 



*I base tliis statement ou a memorandum found in the account books of ALJrsr & 
Brown, or Almy, Bkowx & Slater. Under date of November ."itb, ITiiT, the following 
charge occurs ; " ('aah paid lit'iijamiii Allen, for teacliing a schoul flrst ihiijs, i'L' 14s." The 
next date, for the same object, is October 2jtli, 1800. 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 55 

settled here. After several years of service, Dr. I', witlidrew from 
pastoral labor. Other clergj'inen, however, successively filled tlie post, 
and the church has ever wielded a potent influence in the town. The 
present pastor is Kev. C. E. Smith. 

The society now known as the Second Baptist Church in North 
Providence seems, in its germ at least, to have been the next religious 
organization in this town. Xear the close of the last century, and at 
the beginning of the present century, Polder Angell preached in a 
meeting-house near AVenscott Kcservoir. After a while, however, 
interest waned, piety languished, and the house of God was forsaken. 
The windows were broken out, swallows built under the caves, and 
around the roof, and the building was a reproach to its owners. At 
length, Elder Tift begun meetings. An aged friend informs me, that 
he had l)een to meeting there when the house was used as a carpen- 
ter's shop. The artisan's bench was converted inta a kind of pulpit : 
the ministers and deacons stood behind it, and the latter lined off the 
hymns ; the congregation were seated, — males, on one side, and females, 
on the other, — on rude seats, made of slabs, supported by four slender 
legs. After a few years of this kind of worship under difficulties, the 
meeting-house was taken down, and removed to Fruit Hill. This was 
done in 181G or 1^17. A new church was then organized, made up 
of such of the members of the old church as were not physically or 
spiritually dead ; residents of Fruit Hill ; and certain brethren from 
Providence. Its present organization dates from the year 1818. 

The next society organized was the St. Paul's Church. Episcopalian 
services were commenced in North Providence in 1814. The organiza- 
tion, however, dates from December 22d, 1815. Kev. Mr. Blake was 
the first rector : and the corner-stone of the meeting-house was laid on 
June 24th, 1816. In the fall of 1824, Kev. George Taft came to 
this town to preach, and has remained till the present day. This long 



56 CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

union in days of fickleness is honorable to both pastor and people. The 
present junior pastor is Rev. J. D'W. Perrv. 

The first attempts to propagate IMethodisni, in this town, were made 
by circuit preachers prior to 1813. Of course, the earlier efforts were 
without regularity. The first class was formed at some time between 
1813 and 1810. This became the nucleus of a church. The first 
meeting-house was reared in 1829-30. Israel Washburn was the 
first pastor. The present house of worship was erected in 1841, during 
the pastorate of Rev. R. M. Hatfield. This edifice was enlarged and 
refitted in 18.57, wliile Rev. S. F. Upham was pastor. The present 
pastor is Rev. T). H. Ela. 

In 1827, the first Universalist Society was incorporated by name of 
the First Universalist Society in North Providence. A meetino--house 
was reared and dedicated ; but after being occupied for a few years, 
passed from the hands of the society. Severe commercial revulsions 
caused the removal, from the town, of several of the members ; and 
the meeting-house was finally bought by the Baptists, and is now called 
the High Street Baptist Meeting-house. In 1841, another Universalist 
Society was incorporated under tlie name of The Mill Street Univer- 
salist Society. This society is still in existence. The present pastor is 
Rev. Massena Goodrich. 

The Pawtucket Congregational Church was established in what was 
then Pawtucket, Mass. As, however, a large share of its members 
reside in North Providence, and as from the length of time for which 
their present pastor has watched over his fiock, both he and hi?; church 
have wielded a potent moral influence in this community, it seems not 
improper to chronicle a fact or two as to its organization. In April, 
1829, nine members of the church in Attleborough were dismissed to 
form a church in Pawtucket. A commodious meeting-house had been 
previously erected, and was in due time dedicated. Two pastors pre- 
ceded the present one; but, in July, 1836, Rev. C. Blodgett was 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 57 

iiistalleil, and has emulated the example of Dr. Taft by cleaving to 
the people of his charge. So long a union is mutually creditable to 
pastor and people. During tiie past year, the house in which that 
church worshiped was destroyed by fire ; but I doubt not a still more 
commodious and attractive one will be reared on the old sisht. 

The land for the Roman Catholic Church was given by David 
Wilkinson, Esq. In 1829, the church was built, under the super- 
vision of Rev. Mr. Woodly. For a number of years, the church was 
supplied by non-resident clergymen. Father Fenly was the first regu- 
lar pastor who lived in Pawtucket. Since him, three others have had 
the pastoral charge of St. Mary's Church. The present pastor is Rev. 
P. G. Delany. 

The Allendale Chapel was built by Zachariah Allen, in the 
spring of 1847. Immediately after being dedicated, meetings begun to 
be held regulaidy on the Sabbath, though, for a couple of years, there 
was no settled pastor. Rev. Christopher Rhodes commenced his 
labors in May, 1849. A church was organized in April, 1850, under 
the name of the Allendale Baptist Church. 

The Church of the Immaculate Conception was organized in 1858. 
Their meeting-house was dedicated on July 5th of the same year. The 
present pastor is Rev. E. J. Cooney. 

To correct any misapprehension, I may be allowed to add a word 
here. I give no account of the formation of any religious society, 
within the limits of our town, for more than a century and a (juarter 
after its first settlement. Do I then suppose that all its inhabitants 
were living in skeptical disi'egard of Christianity ? By no means. 
Churches were organized at an early day, in Providence, and doubtless 
many of the inhabitants of what is now North Providence were mem- 
bers of them. Many of the residents of Pawtucket, too, were Friends, 
and they went to Sniithfield to meeting. Social meetings also were 
doubtless often held In different neighborhoods. Still, all experience 



58 ■ CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

shows that only very tleyout natures will rcLTularly yisit nieetino-s held 
miles away. 

I am aware that some may deem this detail of the history of our 
religious societies superfluous. I shall be pardoned, I trust, if I dissent 
from such a judgment. The wealth of a community depends not alone 
on its riches. These two terms have come, in modern usage, to be 
rcirarded as synonymous. In an elder and better usage, the term weallh 
meant the sum total of what contributed to the weal of a people. Not 
siher and gold, houses and lands, alone, make a community jirosperous 
and happy ; but yirtuc, intelligence, and sympathy must abound, and 
order and justice be maintained. For these last matters, howeyer, 
fellow-citizens, we cannot depend on legislation alone. The spirit of our 
people brooks but few restraints, and specially spurns the fostering of 
religion by governmental aid. And yet a civilization destitute of Chris- 
tianity is but gilded barbarism. Ordinary legislation deals only with 
the overt act. It punishes theft, when committed ; while that higher 
law, wliicli it is the business of the Christian ministry to announce, and 
of the church to uphold, utters its more emphatic mandate, — Thou 
shah not steal ; thou shalt not even covet. It deals with the tempta- 
tion in its ver}" birth. And then those thousand amenities, which 
sweeten social intercourse, and bind men together with hooks firmer 
tlian steel, — how genially are these fostered by Christianity ! Indeed, 
the migliticst problems with which the soul ever grapples, are themes 
for tiic pulpit and the church, rather than for the halls of legislation. 
And many a statesman has been ready to acknowledge the Indebtedness 
of his country for the highest elements of grandeur to those influences 
whicli go forth from the Bible and the sanctuary. Said John Adams, 
substantially, " I doubt whether we could have passed successfully 
through the Eevolution had it not been for the moral aid afforded by 
the clergy." And in the four anxious years through which our nation 
has been passing, the heroism and stern faith of the loyal North have 



CENTENNIAL ADDHESS. 69 

been largely upliekl by the appeals of our preaclicrs, and tin- prayers 
of our churches. What thougli tlie Clirij^tian minister is compelled to 
say, "Silver and gold have I none?" Like his great predecessors, he 
can also add, " Such as I have, I give thee." And I trust it will not 
be deemed indelicate for me to sav, that it were hard to find three men 
in this reirion who have done more to increase the real wealth of this 
community than Drs. Benedict, Taft, and Blodgett. Their long 
residence here, strengthening, annually, their moral i)0\ver, has proved 
an unspeakable benefit to the community. And Goldsmith's lines 
seem singularly applicable to such as they. To their peojile, — 

" their heart, their love, their griefs are given, 



But all their serious thoughts have rest in heaven." 

But it is time, fellow-citizens, that I close. To-day, our town begins 
a second century. It is not improper to ask as to its future. Has 
our town attained its full growth ? Are we to look for decadence, 
rather than progress ? I see not why these questions shoidd be 
answered in the affirmative. If I rightly interpret the signs of the 
times, manufacturing is destined to an indefinite expansion in our coun- 
try. We are a young nation. Though recently tried in the fire, we 
have shown the wonderful energy of our people, and the strength of 
free institutions. We -emerge from this war burdened with debt, to be 
sure, yet how much better is our condition than that of our ancestors 
eighty years ago, at the close of our Revolutionary strife ! Then almost 
everything was to be provided ; now the wonderful contrivances of 
machinery exist among us in unrivalled abundance. Our domestic 
needs are to be supplied ; the question whether our workshops are to 
be in Europe or in our own country, is no longer debatable. We are 
to make our own wares, weave our own cloths, provide our own furni- 
ture and implements, on this side of the Atlantic. In a few years man- 
ufacturing will be largely extended in the regenerated Southern States. 
We can afford to resign to them the making of the coarser fabrics, 



60 CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 

especially of cotton, but Xew England will long continue tlie work- 
shop of our country for many of those articles that require nice 
machinery and skilled labor. Already our English brethren, to be sure, 
are grumbling at our tariff, but our answer to them is brief: " By 
your selfish policy you prolonged this contest ; we put the rebellion 
down without your help : we shall legislate for our country to suit our- 
selves. Your trained workmen, your industrious laborers, are welcome 
to a home here ; but our work is mainly to be done in our own land." 
And while the AVest, on account of its comparatively small population, 
and fertile soil, will be slow to establish manufacturintr. New Entrland 
will long retain the precedence. What then is to check the growth of 
North Providence? Even if our water-power is all taken u]), — a point 
fairly open to discussion, — manufacturing by steam is as economical here 
as in any part of New England. Capital is here ; enterprise is here ; 
laborers can be brought here ; and all that seems needed is the forecast 
to discern the wants of the future, and faith and sagacity to use our 
means. Our town committed one suicidal act nearly forty years ago. 
In the severe business revulsion of 1829, David Wilkinson and other 
enter[>ri,sing meclianics were allowed to leave the place. Tlie capital- 
ists of the neigliborliood should have prohibited it. A few words of 
encouragement, and, in due time, seasonable pecuniary aid, had kept 
them here. Other revulsions may occur in the future, but it is not 
worth wliile for rich men to conclude tliat the world is coming to an 
end because the wheels of business are temporarily stopped. The 
wants of a young, \igorous, thrifty nati(jn like ours, a nation so rich 
in n'sinirces and all the elements of material wealth, are constant. A 
little patience, a little faith, and the storm blows over, and industry 
resumes its wonted acti\ ity. No, fellow-citizens, if you are but true to 
yourselves, your town will continue to grow. A hundred years afo, 
and your population was less than a thousand; to-day, it cannot be 
much less than fourteen thoiu«and ; and in respect to capital, the dis- 



CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 61 

parity is still more largely in our favor. More mills, more workshops, 
more houses, are yet to be reared within our borders. The time must 
come when our farmers must vary their agriculture, and, leaving to 
richer soils the work of supplying the commoner fruits and grains, con- 
vert their farms into gardens. 

I rejoice in such a j^rospect. There has been quite too strong a 
tendency for our New England youth to desei-t their homes, and emi- 
grate to distant States. True, those States have gained by their com- 
ing, but we cannot aiford this constant drain. Like the Koman matron, 
we can say of our sons and daughters, These are our jewels. Fain 
would I see them kept around the old homesteads. Here, Avhere there 
are a thousand fond recollections of childhood, a thousand dear associa- 
tions, would we see them lingering in manhood and womanhood, and 
contributing, by their industry, talents and virtue, to the real weal of 
our State. Nurture we, then, every laudable enterprise ; build we our 
community up ; and let us ever recollect that where Christian institu- 
tions are vigorously sustained, education fostered, order, temperance, and 
integrity maintained, there property is safest, life dearest, and man hap- 
piest. The past record of our town is in many respects honoi'able. It 
is a record of unconquerable energy, inventive skill, unflagging toil. 
The citizens of to-day need not blush for their ancestry. Shall our 
children's children have equal cause to glory in our wisdom and fidel- 
ity? God grant tliat they who stand here a hundred years hence, to 
celebrate the second centennial anniversary of our town, may be able 
to exult in a free, a united nation, a prosperous Christian people, a 
thrifty, vigorous community I O loved town and land, peace be within 
your homes, prosperity witliin your marts and mills I 

At the close of the address, the choir sung the old anthem, Denmark. 
The services at the church closed with the benediction by the ven- 
erable Rev. David Benedict, D. D. 



CENTENNIAL DINNER 



CENTENNIAL DINNER. 



AFTER the services at the cliurch, the military and firemen formed 
a procession and marched to Manchester Hall, where an ample 
table was spread for their entertainment. 

The citizens, both ladies and gentlemen, to the number of about 
two hundred, together with invited guests, proceded to the Armory of 
the Pawtucket Light Guard, where a dinner had been prepared by 
Messrs. Dispeau & Childs. The dinner was a magnificent one, and 
every seat was filled. 

When the company were seated, the Rev. Geoege Taft, D. D., 
invoked the Divine blessing. 

After the viands had been disposed of, the Hon. Charles S. 
Bradley, President of the day, called to order, and spoke as follows. 

REMARKS OF MR. BRADLEY. 

Neighbors, Fellow-townsmen and Friends : 

No body of American citizens can assemble upon an historical occasion 
to-day, without their first emotion being that of thanksgiving to Almighty 
God, who, if for a time, in His wisdom, He has allowed us to be punished 
for our sins by the scourge of civil war, has at length, in His mercy, restored 
to us the Union and peace. 

If our minds run back a hvmdred years in the history of this country, 

y 



6G CENTENNIAL DINNER. 

they re?t, at tlie other end of the century, upon the revered form of 
\Vasiiix(;t()X, sind we cannot but insthictively pray tliat his spirit may 
chasten tlie cliaracters of the youth of our land, so that his moderation, his 
dignity, the moral grandeur of his nature, may become the type of Ameri- 
can mind. 

Upon these themes it doth not become me to speak. For, to whom 
shall we turn when we ask for an interpretation of the elements of moral 
cliaracter, but to the reverend clergy around us; and to whom shall we 
turn, for a consideration of the matters pertaining to education, except to 
those whose life-lonji labor it is to mould the human intellect. I introduce 
President Seaks of Brown University. 



REMARKS CF REV. DR. SEARS. 

I rise, with uuafTected diffidence, to answer the sentiment which has 
been given by the President of the day. Personally I cannot profess to 
respond. But, holding by accident of office, a representative place in 
respect to education, and also, sir, in respect to the ministerial functions, I 
speak for the class to which I have the honor to belong. 

Undoubted reference has been made to the seat of education with which 
I am connected. Tiiat, from the beginning, was the representative of piety 
and learning. Tiie first two Presidents were distinguished, particularly, 
f)r tiieir advocacy of religious and moral liberty, and for tiieir zeal in the 
diffusion of knowledge for the benefit of all the learned professions. Tliose 
first Presidents, in their own persons, illustrated the excellence of the 
doctrines- they proclaimed, — tiiemselves the best specimens both of pulpit 
eloquence and also of that kind of education which befits men to exert a 
salutary influence upon society. 

I I'enieniljer, furthermore, on this occasion, that the college actually 
went into operation the very year that this town was incorporated, although 
we had our centennial one year ago, dating it from the first meeting of the 
corporation ; so that, in a certain sense, we may be looked upon, in connec- 
tion with the town, as two sister manufacturing establishments. I will not 
attempt to describe the quality of the manufacture in either establishment. 
There is one disadvantage, however, under which we labor, and that is, 



CENTENNIAL DINNER. 67 

tliat while you can select and pnrcliuse bucli materials as yuu choose, wc 
are ohlised to take such as are sent to iis, and make the best of tluin. 

licligion, Education, Industry ; these arc associated with this occasion. 
They are the foundation of the success and power and dominion of the 
State. To my mind it is a happy comhination ; — Religion, fir>t and chief; 
Education, its hand-maid and subject, to minister to all the wants of 
society; and Industry, without which. Education fails of its practical object. 

And never, in the history of this country, has the importance of these 
three qualities been more prominent and more clearly observable than at 
the present moment. If we have been taught any lesson by the sad scenes 
through which we have passed, during th.e last four years, it is, in the first 
place, that all national prosperity nuist be founded on .--ure moral and reli- 
gious principle, — that we cannot depend upon anything short of a religious 
foundation for the political fabric ; and equally has it been demonstrated 
that intelligence, under the influence of religious sentiment, is the great 
power to act upon matter and upon mind. And in the struggles that have 
been in progress for the last four years, in how manj- instances have we 
looked with delight to see the achievements of mind,— to see how vastly 
superior the intellect is to the mere accumulation of physical sti-ength. 
We have had mighty physical foixes wasted for want of directive energy. 
We have expended treasure and blood beyond what we can estimate, for 
want of mind sufficient in grasp and power to control the vast machinery 
we have put in operation. But, thank God, we were not to remain in this 
humiliating position. (tOD put before us men who had intellectual power, 
and could wield the mighty forces we had called into being. We, to-day, 
see the happy results. 

And the mechanical ingenuity and industry of our people is that which 
has distinguished the New Enoland States durinc: this war. We have met 
the boldness and dash of the South, and found that they would not bear a 
moment's comparison with the ingenuity, energy and practical Intelligence 
which can make things work efftctnally when tliey are put into the hands 
of men trained to Xew England principles, New England habits and New 
England ideas. We admit that the Northwest has shown magnificent 
ability, both In the command of forces and In the executing of the great 
achievements which have distinguished them in the war, but still we look 
to the New England army, as a whole, for an amount of power, distributed 



68 CENTENNIAL DINNER. 

through all the ranks, unequalled, so fur as ingenuity and intellect are 
concerned, by anything to be found on the continent. 

And now, I ask, what is the office which we, in this small State, — this 
little angle of a vast continent, — have to perform ? What is the mission of 
Xew Ensrland ? I answer. It lies in these three words, — Edition, Edu- 
cation. Industry. Carry these sacred three all the way to the Gulf of 
Mexico ; carry them all the way to the Pacific, and let them shed their 
benign influence on tlie isles beyond. If there is salvation for this country, 
it is to come through these means, and no other. There never was a 
britrhter era for an inhabitant of the New England States to live in than 
the present. There never was a nobler opportunity for the genius of New 
England character to infuse itself into all the institutions of the land than 
at this time ; and the appeal made to young men to know their own mis- 
sion, which is to diffuse these sentiments all over the land, is scarcely less 
sacred than tliat for missionary enterprise to give the gospel to the nations 
of the earth. 

The sentiment which lies nearest my heart is the mission we owe to 
the country, beautifully illustrated in more than one of its aspects in the 
history of your town, by such men as have commenced and guided the 
enterprise of this place ; men who have started the manufacturing interests 
of Pawtucket ; men wIkj have shown such bravery by land and sea ; men 
who, in every emergency, have stood up and shown their loyalty to the 
State and the nation. I tiiink we shall not always need to be told of the 
fact, although it will be of interest, that the State of Khode Island is 
situated near to Pawtucket. I think the influence of town and State will 
expand itself to a larger sphere. The ideas that go forth from the history 
of this town are the ideas we wish to spread all over the land. I close 
with these three single words, — Religion, Education, Industry. 

Mil. Bradley. We have paid our first respects to Religion and 
Education : and I think every New England man will see the justness of 
the reverend speaker's claim, that the diffusion of these ideas constitutes 
our mission as a peoj)le. He has complimented our State, as well he 
might, upon being one of those workshops or hives of Industry which unite 
this last with Religion and Education. Our little State, — is she not, in her 
industry and energy, like that statue of Hercules, which, only a cubit 



CENTENNIAL DINNER. 69 

hlgli, was so perfect in its jiroportions as to give a better idea of muscular 
vigor than the Colossus ? Our little State is repi-esented here by one of 
her chief magistrates, than whom none is more versed in historic lore, none 
more fit to occupy a seat upon tlie Bench where Justice sits serene and 
impartial. I introduce Judge Beayton. 



REMARKS OF JUSTICE BRAY TON. 

My business is not to make addresses, but to weigh arguments and 
decide causes. I, of all men, should least be called upon for such a speech 
as would entertain this assembly. 

But since I am called upon, and since I do know something of the his- 
tory of this State, I will refer, for an instant, to that history. I will not 
detain you many minutes. We have been called upon, for the last four 
years, to consider something of government : What is government? who 
are to be governed? and who has the ri"ht to jjovern ? This has been one 
of the groiuids of this great contest, — whether these Southern States had a 
right to secede from this young government, or what is there that binds a 
man under his government? Now, I refer to this matter simply because it 
is connected, and materiall)' connected, with the very early history of this 
colony. The first planter here was a man who was driven away by the 
intolerance of a government. There grew up a necessity with those who 
went with him to have some sort of a government. They formed a union 
among themselves by voluntary association, and made experiment of that 
as a government. It was not long before they quarreled among themselves, 
and the experiment failed. Not many years after this, there was a new 
settlement formed. The settlers came from a similar (juartcr of the coun- 
try, and for similar reasons. Xot being allowed to remain where they were, 
they sought a new home three thousand miles from the sovereign power 
which thrust them forth. One portion of them were merchants. Another 
were farmers. They went on well for a year, and then they had a diffi- 
culty. There was a secession and afterwards a reiinion. But it was not 
so perfect but that an individual could resist the power of the government. 
Now, for a series of years, this has involved the question, " In what does 
oovernment consist?" We have o;one throu"h all the iihasos; and it was 



70 CENTENNIAL DINNER. 

in tliis State that liberty was cratlled. Tliij; State was able to resist all 
cncroacliments, maintain its stand, and make a government. After tlie 
formation of this government, there came hither an individual of whom 
much has been said, and who said that the government at Portsmouth was 
no legitimate government ; that the people were subjects of the crown of 
England, and until they received authority from it, they had no govern- 
ment. There was a difficulty, and he was banisl:ed from that State. He 
came to Providence, and they refused to admit him there. They denied 
the validity of any government but that of Providence. They said they 
miglit get along by voluntary agreement, and if they got into difficulty they 
could submit it to arbitration. They did so, and said there was no power 
aside from that agreement, for one man to bind another. He claimed that 
they must have the authority cf the crown or sovereign power to which 
they were subject, in order to form an association to exercise the powers- 
of government, — the power to issue judgment, pass a decree and carry it 
into execution ; — then every man would be bound by it, and no man have 
the right to secede. 

Now, he went on and formed an association. They acted upon that 
pi'inciple. They did not attempt to exercise the powers of government 
until they had received a charter from the sovereign of the mother country 
and from its Parliament. From that time they went on, and this man, 
whom they charged with being so turliident and opposed to all govern- 
ment, sat down as quietly as any individual even under the government 
of Massachusetts. 

Now, look at these phases which we have gone through. They came 
and established a government, but not luitil they had received power from 
an authorized source. They felt that they were bound, from all considera- 
tions, to pay deference to the sovereign power. And I may say that this 
is the jirinciple which they have wrought out. It was wrought out here, 
through all these phases, from necessity. And that principle must operate, 
and is operating'now. It is a principle that must be established throughout 
this Union, if it is a Union at all. That is all that I intended to say. 

Mu. Bradley. The Judge has spoken of the State laws and of gov- 
ernment. There is a section of the State which gives name, indeed, to the 
whole of it, M'hich, through one of its citizens, (not iiersonally present, 



CENTENNIAL DINNER. 71 

however,) has sent lis its courteous greeting. This section I often heard 
your Lite colleague, Judge Bullock, apostrojihize in tlic language of his 
favorite poet and philosopher, CoLERlDGE : 

"O rare and beauteous island! thou liast Ijeeu 
Jly sole and most adorable temple." 

That great man, historian, philosopher and poet, loved that island almost 
to idolatry, as did that philosopher of whom Pope spoke as possessed 
of every virtue under heaven, the founder of colleges, libraries and 
churches, who wrote the immortal prophecy : 

"■Westward the star of empire takes its way. 

Time's uoblest oiisxiriug is the last." 

Well might Berkeley, arid men of culture and leisure and genius, choose 
their home.s upon that verdant Isle, whose climate is made so genial by 
the influence of that stream which comes up from the tropics, laden with 
balmy fragrance 

"From the sjjicy shore 
Of Araby the blest" 

We are remembered, kindly and courteously, by that distinguished 
gentleman who has shared your favor, (though the breath of popular favor 
is always unstable.) I will read a letter from the learned author of 
Treatises on International Law, the lion. William Beach Lawrence, 
of Newport. 

[The letter having been mislaid, it Is necessarily omitted in this report.] 

Mr. Bradley. We have among us a distinguished guest who has 
acquired fame and fortune in other States, although he is proud to date his 
nativity from this town. I will Introduce to you Mr. MosES Fierce, now 
of Xorwich, Conn., but formerly one of our own citizens. 



72 CENTENNIAL DINNER. 



REMARKS OF MOSES PIERCE, ESQ. 

Mr. President : 

During the rebellion which has just been put down, I liave looked with 
pride upon what ray native State has done in tlie raising of men, and upon 
tlieir heroic action in battle. And I have liad an especial eye upon this 
town, where I first drew breath, and where I spent some seventeen years 
of my earl}' life. But I cannot but think, at this moment, that you must 
be largely indebted to my old friend, the chairman of your committee, for 
your success in raising recruits, if, indeed, he took the same advantage of 
them which he did of me, in making his application to me to be present 
here, while I was in the church, completely absorbed in the celebration, 
without one idea of making a speech ; for I <j;raduated at the old red school- 
house, near this spot, where even the sunlight of " Brown "" did not reach 
in those days. ^ 

My memory has been busy, since I have been here, with scenes con- 
nected with this place forty or fifty years ago. I remember the village as 
it was then. I see venerable men around me, who were then just in the 
vigor of manhood. And I remember those who have passed away, — many 
of them the companions of my youth. Some forty years ago, this very 
montli, I stood on Bunker Hill amontr that innumerable throng', and saw 
upon that platform two hundred of the ancient and honorable and brave 
men of the Revolution, surrounding an orator whose eloquence, on that day, 
has seldom been excelled. I saw there the bright, particular star of that 
constellation of worthies, Lafayette, and by his side sat Stephen 
Olxey, a citizen of North Providence at that time ; and I remember the 
scene in the Court House yard, at Providence, to which the orator referred 
this morning. I saw Lafayette embrace that honored man of North 
Providence, in friendship begun at the Battle of Brandy wine, and cemented 
at the Battle of Yorktown. They were brothers in arms. Those men 
have all passed away. Not one of all tliose who stood upon that j)latforni, 
among those Revolutionary worthies, is now in life. 

I remember venerable citizens of this town, at that period, ily mem- 
ory runs back to the time when OziEL Wilkinson was the "nine-o'clock" 
of this village. Many a time have I played with the companions of my 
boyhood, between those ehn trees that stood in front of that dwelling, and 



CENTENNIAL DINNER. 7o 

when nliiu o'clock came, OziEL Wilkinson caiiic to the door, saying. 
" Jeems, Jeems, does tliee know it is nine o'clock ? " That was the signal 
for us boys to find our homes. I remember Jeremiah Jenks, Moses 
Jexks and Stephen Jenks. Those were the old men of the place. 
Abraham and Isaac Wilkinson, Thomas Steere, Nathaniel Wal- 
ker, and many others I could name, were just in the prime of life, — some 
of them just passing out of the active business period. I remember the 
industrious habits of this community, for this place was one of the work- 
shops and bee-hives of this country, to which the orator alluded. It was 
required that all the cotton should be carried home in a hand-cart to be 
whipped. You would continually see it carried along the streets in hand- 
carts, that the seeds might be whipped out of it, to fit it for manufacturing 
purposes. 

I am not o-oing to detain you with these reminiscences, but will tell you 
a fish story. I have not alluded to Timothy Greene, who was one of 
the active men of the days of my earliest recollection, and with whom my 
father found a home when he came here. Timothy Greene had been 
born and brought up on the shores of Narragansett Bay, where he had 
more experience in digging Cliippewanoxsctt clams than he had m that 
ancient way of fishing in the winter time, (kept up, I believe, to this day, ) 
bv means of a scoop-net, through holes cut in the ice. I used to take great 
delight in this sport. Many a time have I skated to Brown's Bridge and 
back again, stopping at Swan Point, Bucklin's Island, and every fi"shing- 
ground around it, to see how they got along fishing. Some time after 
Timothy Greene came here, he desired to go fishing in the winter. 
Stephen Jenks and Daniel Wilkinson concluded also that they would 
o-o down and have a little fishing on the ice. They took scoop-nets, and, 
like the disciples of old, toiled aH the night and caught nothing. Coming 
h< me. near morning, (the weather being so severe that ice formed up to 
the rear of Pardon Jenks's grist-mill,) they landed in an old coal-yard 
near Stephen Jenks's shop. Here Timothy put his net through an 
opening in the ice, and drew it up heavy with fish. But instead of getting 
bass, the kind generally caught, he caught the small perch, which were so 
very small that a great many slipped through the meshes of the net, and 
hung down from the outside of it. Timothy, excited by his unexpected 
success, exclaimed, " Did you ever know anything equal to this? The fish 

10 



74 CENTENNIAL DINNER. 

are so glad to get out of this icy cold water that those who cannot get into 
the net take hold of the outside of it with their teeth." 

Mr. Bkadley. I would like to inquire of the gentleman, whether the 
story is an authentic one, which is told of Col. SiEriiEN Olnkv, that when 
in the army, his regiment was disordered somewhat, and Washington said 
to him, " Your regiment gives me more tnnible than any other in the 
army,"' and that the Colonel rejoined, " That, sir, is precisely what the 
enemy say." 

Mr. Pierce. I cannot say of my own knowledge. 

Dr. Charles F. Manchester read the following regular toasts : 

Our Town — Though five score years of age, it is still fresli and vigorous, euergetic and 
enterprising; and we can, with reason and confidence, jiredict that its record for tlie suc- 
ceeding hundred years will be as pregnant with tliemes for eulogy, in another centennial 
address, as we have, to-day, found to be its record for the century which is past. 

The President called upon Hon. Thomas Davis. 



BE MARKS OF HON. THOMAS DAVIS. 

I was thinking, Mr. President, as you called upon the gentlemen who 
preceded me, that I could not help wishing that I possessed the fine clas- 
sical taste with which you accompanied each introduction. I always feel 
a regret, when speaking, that it was not my fortune to derive all the benefitc 
which might have accrued from early educati(jn ; and, therefore, I fail to 
speak elegantly on occasions like the present, where, although the sub- 
jects under consideration are weighty, they do not peculiarly stir the mind 
like contest or debate. 

It is the condition of no inconsiderable number of the States, cities and 
towns of our country to have subjects connected with their history which 
seem to single them out as something distinguished and superior. We 
hear, on almost all public occasions, of the services of States, or towns, or 
cities. Perhaps it is ,a proper feeling. Certainly we are bound to look 
over the history of the past, and derive encouragement and imjnilse from 



CENTENNIAL DINNER. 75 

contemplating tlie labors and conduct of tlioso wlio liave gone Ijefore us. 
and prepared the condition of tilings which wc now find to exist. But it 
seems to me that this town has peculiar claims tor considerations of this 
kind. It seems to me that no locality of equal extent has a more marked 
history. It undoubtedly owes this, in some measure, to the fact that a 
stream poured forth its waters here, and made a power wiiich enabled men 
to overlook the ground, and see where they could contribute to their own 
wealth. Doubtless tliis was the orioinal reason why this became a ureat 
centre of business. If we wlio arc here, feilow-citizcris, — if we can carry 
our minds back a hundred years, and see what progress lias been made in 
that period, wc may well teel astonished, and ask ourselves, if another cen- 
tury that is to come can accomplish more for the welfare of the human race. 
Within the lifetime of most of us the whole condition of society has been 
changed by the inventive genius of man. Nearly all of us recollect the first 
railroad that ever ran here. We recollect the introduction of steam and 
of telegraphs, and what a revolution they have made in the social system. 
AVe cannot calculate their effects. The wortiiy President of Brown Uni- 
versity spoke of lieligion. Education and Industry, — three matters of great 
moment ; great each in its own sphere. But how little progress either 
could make without the aid of the other. Even in rco;ard to reli<!;ion : 
though a man miiriit individually be a Christian, — and tjiat is a great 
deal, — yet the only way Christianity can prevail in the world is by march- 
ing side by side with industry and science, — physical science; and I may 
say, without presumption, that it appears to me that the whole Christian 
world has, thus far, made only failures in its attempts on heathenism, 
because it did not carry with it our industrial modes and scientific improve- 
ments. . 

In that spirit we are here, to-day, to take in the whole range of these 
matters, and give no one of them undue importance. As religion is potent 
in its place, it derives its power to be so as much from the mechanic arts 
and from science as it does from the purity of its j)rinciplcs. I wish to 
detract nothing from these. I believe the utterances made by Christ to 
be all that can be uttered of the Divine. But they do not comprehend the 
whole of the relations of man to the universe and to the Ctod who created 
the luiiverse. It is only by developing the wdiole of these matters that we 
can know anything about what either of them is in its ultimate results. 



76 CENTENNIAL DINNER. 

AVcll, sir, we are here to-day. But if we could cast our eyes forward 
and contemplate the century which is to come, what clianges would we 
behold. Here are the young about us. How tew of them will remain 
when half a century sliall have passed! Tliere will a few be gathered 
together on the semi-centennial. And the great aspiration of us all is, that 
when we shall pass off this stage, we may compreliend something of the 
progress we have witnessed here. This is, indeed, our highest aspiration, 
that these minds given us by our Cueatou may be continued in their 
powers, and expand to the capacity to comprehend, in its progress, all that 
belongs to our earthly existence of that which is beyond, — of which we 
scarcely have an apprehension now, — and of the vast system in which we 
live. If, indeed, we could be assured, this day, that we should comprehend 
these thinsjs, we should go home with liohtcr hearts, and with a moi'c 
elevated view of society and of man. And notwithstanding all that has 
been said about this matter, we still doubt. We have not full faith to 
believe, or our lives would o-ive hin;her exhibitions of the ends for which 
we were created. But it is something, even in a moment, to feel that such 
things may be; that this our festivity maj' be in harmony with those higher 
ideas that elevate our minds and alone make existence of value. 

I do not know, sir, that I am prepared to enlarge on this subject of 
industry. I have seen something of the progress of the mechanic arts in 
Khode Island, alth(nigh entirely disconnected from this village. Forty 
years ago, — certainly a long period in life, — I commenced mechanical labor 
in a jeweller's shop, and I have seen every step in the progress of that 
business, to this hour, and can say that it is a perfect wonder to comprehend 
it. I may not be able to give it in detail: It would make, in itself, a 
little history, which a person having the taste and ability, might write. 
Now, all the work that was once performed l)y the hands (jf the younger 
appi'cntices is done by machinery. Tiie hardest work was rolling down 
the stock in a little mill, which was before done by boys. It is now done 
by steam power. A hundred appliances of machinery all bring out the 
most beautiful structures in connection with that business. Indeed, in our 
own city, has been invented a machine for the manufacture of articles of 
jewelry in chains, which is now running in Europe. It has never been 
equalled by any invention for this purpose. I presume the same remark 
applies to the naechanic arts generally, and to those branches of them 



CENTENNIAL DINNER. 77 

prosecuted in Pawtiieket, where tlie sniiie genius li:is been expended with 
the same happy results. 

And, sir, in the midst of all this pro-rress, we have sometimes been 
aharmed at the magnitude of the great corpoi'ations that have grown up. 
I confess, Mr. President, that I sometimes have entertained the idea that 
they mii'lit be unfiivorable to the freedom of men. I was somewhat later, 
perhai)S, in my ideas of democracy, or, rather, I did not apply to them the 
right principles. But it now seems to me, fellow-citizens, that all these 
o-reat corporations are working out, for the masses of mankind, a favorable 
result. Instead of being in the hands of one man, the artisans will, by 
degrees, become participants in the results of their labor. They can be 
owners of the stock. They are distributed among tiie masses. They can 
own little or nuich, and derive a proportion of the profit of what they pro- 
duce. I could not but reflect, during the last session of the Legislature, 
. where great numbers applied for acts of incorporation, (some for purposes 
beyond this State, but a great i)roportion for purposes within it,) that all 
these acts were tending to contribute to the equalization of property rather 
than to destroy it. I think I can clearly see a tendency in these towards 
this result. I cannot but believe that all these are to become means of dis- 
tributing wealth, and raising up the masses, and giving them an interest, 
though it may be a small one, in every great corporation. If industrious 
and prudent, they may oftener become owners, in this position of affairs, 
than if left to combat witli capital in the hands of a single person. And 
so of all our other great improvements which have resulted from the pro- 
gress of physical science. Our railroads, and especially our new horse 
railroads, are conferring great benefits on the mass of our citizens. AVe 
struggle against them at first, but soon learn to recognize tiieir utility, and 
value them accordingly. 

During the oration, to-day, when the orator was speaking of the oppo- 
sition made to the dams across the river, on the groiuid that they inter- 
fered with the passage of fish, I was reminded of an incident related to me 
by Hon. Lemuel Angell, a Senator from this town, in a former Legisla- 
ture ten or fifteen years ago, but whom I do not see here to-day. He 
stated to me that when the Legislature of Rhode Island was in session,— 
it may be forty years ago,— about the time the first steamer came up our 
bay,— the Senate passed an act prohibiting steamers coming into Rhode 



78 CENTENNIAL DINNER. 

Island waters, on the ground that they would disturb the fis!:. I do not 
tliink the bill ever extended to the other house. I never heard anything 
more of it. But it showed the spirit which prevailed. The Senate was a 
small body, and probably had not many popular ideas, although men of 
eminent ability as politicians. But, Mr. President, I have spoken long- 
enough, and tlianking you for your attention, will quietly sit down. 

Mu. Bradley. My neighbor and friend who has just taken his seat 
will pardon me for adding a word as to the progress made in machinery. 
A gentleman engaged in the cotton manufacture told me, that from the 

coo " 

time he first entered a cotton mill, up to the present day, the cost of pro- 
ducing a yard of cotton has been decreased just sixteen times. One person 
can now ])roduce as much cotton, tlirough the aid of improved machinery, 
as sixteen persons could have done when he first entered a cotton mill. 

Through this inventive faculty of the mind, great burdens are to be 
lifted from the people of this country. When in Euroj)e, I was astonished 
at the vast difference in readiness of perception in regard to the understand- 
inn- of machinery between European nations and our own. I think, 
although it is said tliat the new continent produces the best specimens of 
vegetable growth, and the old world, the finest specimens of the human 
kingdom, that the American mind is more akin to those finer powers of 
nature, electricity and magnetism, and evinces more of the faculties of dis- 
covery and imagination. Perhaps in no place on this continent has this 
been more i.lustr;ited than here. My friend knows that, in hunting up 
jiatent cases, we can find tiie earliest discoveries about here. 

The second reoular toast was — 

o 

The Orator" of the Day— With the skill of au artist lias he daguerreotyped to our 
view th'i men and transactions of one liundred years, so tlnit «'o and those wlio come after 
ns and read the history, may say with jiride, "such were our fathers and the works of their 
hands." 

Eev. Mr. Goodkicii was called upon to res})ond, and spoke as follows. 



R E JI A R K S OF R P: V . MR. GOODRICH. 

The only speech I ought to make, ]\Ir. President, would be an apology 
to our friends for taxing their patience so long during the meeting. I wish 



CENTENNIAL DINNER. 79 

to say here, tliat what little I have hcen able to do sliows me the necessity 
that a great deal more .should be done. In conversation with Rev. Dr. 
Benedict, a while ago, he told me tliat some interesting reminiscences, 
that he had written years since, were to be revised and put in sha])e. I 
hope the worthy Doctor will be spai-ed to us a great mniiy years. I ho]ie 
some of his friends will suggest to him that he should do this work soon, 
that we may have this interesting local liistory preserved. 

Our worthy Dr. Tai-t has also informed nie that he was prcparino- 
i-eminiscences of his time. I trust he will be led to do that work soon, thai 
a great deal of interesting matter relative to the local history of this region 
may be preserved. 

Having gone out of the room, oppressed with the heat. I come in as our 
worthy President was speaking of L'eligion, Education and Industrv. It 
is unnecessary that I speak any more about industry in Pawtucket. It 
would be bringing coals to Newcastle. It is not unlikely, that, as we have 
taken such a start, this will continue to be a thriving industrial centre, 

I want to speak a word about education. Public education and com- 
mon schools, unhappily, are a comparatively recent invention in Phode 
Island, though, to the credit of Providence be it said, and to tlie credit of 
Moses Browx in particular, that it was not so with all parts of the State : 
for he long strove to popularize that system, and complained that it was 
not the men of wealth, whose children attended the common schools, upon 
whom the tax must bear the hardest, but upon the poorest. We have had 
a great many illustrations of that fact in other places. It is not enough for 
us, in our country, to depend on our higher institutions. They have their 
worth. But, for all the money that has ever been invested in them, for all 
the talent concentrated there, look at A^irginia. At tlie outbreak of this 
rebellion, she had six or eight colleges, well officered, — their course of study 
equal to that of the average Northern colleges. She iiad, in her larger 
colleges, eight hundred youth instructed, — more than Harvard had, — more 
than Brown has : and yet Virginia went staggering into the rebellion, 
dragged in by those seeking only to enforce the will of a corrupt oligarchy. 
We look at Virginia with pity to-day. 

Let us have collegiate education : let the higher institutions of learnin"- 
be maintained ; but let common schools have a full share of our interest 
and our liberality. 



80 CENTENNIAL DINNER. 

I recollect a story that Prcsklcnt Feltox used to relate, with consid- 
erable glee, when I was residing at Cambridge. He happened to be, at the 
time, on the school committee, as were several of the professors at Harvard 
University. It was a favorite idea witli the President, that all education 
should be free ; that colleges should speedily be made free to all who saw 
fit to attend. It was his desire, and that of the professors referred to, to 
make the common schools of the city of Cambridge so good that no private 
institutions could live ; and they pretty well succeeded. The story was of 
some lads whom he happened to hear conversing together, and who had 
been in the haliit of going to private schools, but had then just commenced 
attending the public schools. One of the lads said to his fellow, " I say, 
Bill, these common schools are capital institutions ; they take the starch 
out of a fellow finely." I hope we shall have good common schools that 
will take the starch out of all that need to be subjected to such a process. 

Another fact I woidd call attention to in this connection. Education is 
not finished when a boy or girl leaves the school. It is but just begun. 

Another important institution is a good public library. I do not mean 
private attiiirs. We have one of those here in this village. I cannot get 
into it. I have not the money to invest in it. It is the property of a 
private corporation. It is a good institution for those that have a share in 
it. I wish it were a public institution, in the largest sense of the term. 
The oidy ]u-actical application I want to make of that thought is this : 
GEOi:(iE Peabody caused his name to be remembered in his native town, 
not by building a monument, but by establishing a library. South Dan- 
vers, small as she is, is glorious in her public libraries. Another absent son 
of Boston laid the foundation of its noble public library. Is there not 
some absent son of this town, blessed with the means, who wants to make 
his own neighbors' children, and their children's children, down to the 
latest generation, recollect him lovingly? Let him endow a public library. 
Perha[)s it is not worth while to say there is an immense amount of wealth 
in this little region. Let that wealth be duly consecrated to the work of 
spreading intelligence among the j)eople, and we will have a public library. 

About this matter of religion. I suppose there has been a great deal 
of wrangling among sects, and that there is a great deal at the present time. 
Mere utilitarians may consider this unnecessary. In reading the history 
of Khode Island, one of the incidents that stirred me most was to read of 



CENTENNIAL DINNER. 81 

Roger Williams's efforts to maintain, in this community, perfect freedom 
of conscience ; and 3-et lie was not indifferent to theoretical views. When 
he learned tliat George Fox was down in Xewport, creating a sensation, 
and disseminating views which he considered prejudicial, he proposed a 
friendly discussion, and rowed down to that city in a boat, (this was before 
the day of steamboats,) reaching there about midnight, commencing his 
discussion the next day, and continuing it three days. He was, at that 
time, over seventy-three years of age. I honor him for that, and should, if 
it had been John Calvin or John Murray he was discussing with. My 
religious convictions are dearer to me than all others. But I honor my 
Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Congregational brethren, and those of every 
other denomination, for fidelity ; and I believe that it is for the advantage of 
every community that religious sentiment should be active, and that there 
should be religious institutions maintained in all vigor and vitality. I 
recollect a remark of Chief Justice Parsons when he resided in Newbury- 
port. There was, at one time, a good deal of religious excitement in that 
place, and a friend, residing in Salem, was rather condoling with the Chief 
Justice where thei'e was so much agitation. "Come up and live in Salem," 
said he, " where we don't have any quarrels about i-eligion." " There is 
but one difference," replied the Chief Justice, " between us at Newbury- 
port and you at Salem. You don't care anything about religion, and we 
do care enough about it to (quarrel about it." If men won't work without 
a little stimulus, I would rather they would get up interest enough to 
quarrel a little intellectually ; anything but apathy and indifference. I have 
read of a man who went to polished Athens, some eighteen hundred years 
ago. He met the philosophers, — Epicureans and Stoics, — disputed in the 
market-place, and spoke before the Assembly of the Areopagus. But this 
people, with all their intellectual culture, were a very frivolous kind of 
people, and the major part of them, visitors and residents, cared nothing 
except to hear or tell some new thing. These are not the persons to make 
earnest, striving and successful men, either in initiating social improvements 
or in maintaining liberty, and the apostle gatheredno church there. 

Mr. Bradlet. I suppose, after the example we have had, we should 
all tike to hear more from these clergymen who quarrel so much, as our 
brother has told us. The toast-master will read a sentiment to which the 
Rev. Mr. Ela is expected to respond. 
11 



82 CENTENNIAL DINNER. 

The tliiril regular toast was — 

The Town ok North Providence— The first place in the world to apply steam 
power for the piir]ioses of navigation; the first place in America to spin cotton yarn liy 
machinery; the first place in New England to establish Sunday schools. 
I 

R E :\I A R K S OF REV. D . H . E L A . 

I have been very niucli interestetl, Mr. President, in listening to the 
speeches I have heard this afternoon ; so much so that I should like to 
carrv them away without having them mixed up with others, such as I can 
o-ivc. I hardly see how this toast can come specially within the province 
of the clergy. It occurred to nie, that if I were in a legislature or a delib- 
erative assembh-, I should ask that the question might be divided. It 
seems difficult to understand how the first steamboat, the first spinning- 
jenny and the first Sunday school have any connection. I believe it is a 
principle of legislation, that the different parts of a bill must be germane to 
each other. The steamboat may have brought the first spinning-jenny, 
but I do not know how the spinning-jenny is cousin to the Sunday school, 
unless it be through the waterfall. Justice Bratton assents, and I shall 
therefore consider that we have the judgment of the Supreme Court that 
that opinion is correct. 

There is a connection between these matters of scientific and industrial 
improvement and that interest which the Sunday school represents. It is 
not an accident, Mr. President, that these things come together, — that they 
are neighbors to each other in time, and neighbors in locality. It is only a 
part of that great fact which we can see widely displayed in all the Chris- 
tian world, — that science has attended upon religion, and art has accom- 
panied the advancement of morality. It is not an accident that GoD has 
put into the hands of Christian nations the larger portion of the wealth of 
the world. It is not an accident that the telegrajih, the printing press, 
steam power, and all the different departments of art and science, are in 
the hands of Christian nations. It is not an accident, it seems to me, that 
commerce is mostly in the hands of Christian nations. It is not an accident 
that the great gold deposits of the world, over which it seems as if GoD 
had placed His hand and covered them for ages and for generations, have 
been uncovered by Him to Christian people, so that they have found the 



CENTENNIAL DINNER. 83 

treasures licre gathered, and may pour them forth in blessings on the world. 
It is not an accident that the great coal fields arc under the control of Chris- 
tian civilization. It is not an accident that a Clu-istian nation has lately 
" struck ile." These things have a purpose in the great providence of 
God. They are for the blessing of the nations. They are for the improve- 
ment of humanity. GoD has given them to His people for a great and 
glorious purpose. And thus, right here, in the history of this town, we 
have the Sunday school growing up in the midst of the industry and busi- 
ness of a manufacturing community. This is not an accident. Wiiat 
could have been done without the influences of religion ? How could the 
good order of society have been maintained ? How could civilization have 
been advanced ? How could we have been prepared for these great times ? 
How could we have remained firm in our contest for civil liberty without 
these great influences, without regard to something more than expediency 
and the considerations of political economy to keep us steady? We needed 
these mighty principles that God has blessed the land with, to steady us in 
these momentous revolutions through which we have passed. It is a sig- 
nificant fact, that this Sunday-school movement has taken such a hold of 
society in these latter times. This single institution, planting here its seeds 
of truth, has had a mighty influence in preparing us for the great work 
which God has given us to do. I see, then, more clearly than at first, the 
connection between these important matters and our history; but I will not 
detain you longer. 

Mr. Bradley. We had expected the presence of His Excellency the 
Governor of the State, but he is unavoidably detained, and has sent the 
following letter. 



LETTER FROM GOV. SMITH. 

State of Rhode Island, Executive Department, 
Providence, June 23, 1865. 
Gentlemen : 

His Excellency Gov. Smith desires me to acknowledge the receipt of 
your invitation to attend the celebration of the centennial anniversary of 
the town of North Providence, and to express to you his regrets that 



84 CENTENNIAL DINNER. 

several pressing engagements, for the day, will niiike it impossible for him 
to be present on the above occasion. 

Assuring you of His Excellency's congratulations upon the rapid ad- 
vancement of your town, and upon the higli position which it has attained, 
from its wealth and manufactures, 

I am, gentlemen, with great respect, 

Your very obedient servant, 

Charles E. Bailey, 

Col. and Priv. Secy. 
To D. Wilkinson, 

William F. Sayles, 

Obadiah Brown, etc. 

The fourth rejiular toast was — 

OtTK Mother, the City op Providence— TIioukIi long separated from her, we are 
not estranged; and though living in a more northern clime, our hearts are sufficiently- 
warm to welcome her representatives here to-day. 

Mr. Bradley. It was expected that this would be responded to by 
His Honor Mayor Doyle, who is absent. He has, however, sent the 
followinof letter : 



LETTER FROM MAYOR DOYLE. 

Mayor s Office, 

City of Providence, June 2-3, 1865. 
Gentlemen : 

Your polite invitation to participate in the festivities of the centennial 
celebration of North Providence was handed to me by the chairman of your 
committee. 

I regret that my recent indisposition, from which I have not fully 
recovered, together with a press of official duties upon the day appointed, 
will prevent me from being with you. 

Permit me, however, to express my gratification at the prosperity which 
the town has attained, and at the influence she exerts in the State. 

As she increases in population and wealth, and as her agricultural and 



CENTENNIAL DINNER. 85 

manufacturing interests are developed, so her prosperity and influence must 
also continue to increase. 

I sincerely hope tliat lier past progress is the harbinger of future great- 
ness, and that the pleasant and harmonious relations existing between this 
city and her daughter may never be broken, but be strengthened with each 
passing year. 

Thanking you for the courtesy which prompted the invitation, 
I remain, respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

Thomas A. Doyle, Mayor. 
To D. Wilkinson, 

William F. Sayles, 
Obadiah Brown, etc. 

The next regular toast was — 

Our Predecessors in the Buildisg up op North Providence— Gladly would 
we welcome them to this festive board, and thauk them for'their labors and sacrifices in 
the jjast; but their race is run, and their goal, we trust, is won; and we can do no more 
than pay this tribute to their memorj' in silence. 

To this there was no response. 

The next resular toast was — 

SAM0EL, Slater and DA^^D "Wilkinson — Two names intimately connected with the 
history of the Pawtucket jjart of North Providence. By their genius and perseverance 
they left their impress upon the place; but while the former was rewarded for his labors, 
and ended his days where he had been useful and was appreciated, the latter was forced, 
by misfortune, to leave in his old age, and go among strimgers to "see if he could earn 
his own living." 

Rev. David Benedict, D. D., made the following response, on invita- 
tion from the President to relate some portion of the early history of the 
town. 

REMARKS OF REV. DR. BENEDICT. 

Mr. President: 

It is a grateful spectacle to see so many people assembled to unite in 
celebrating this anniversary. Having had no previous notification, it can- 



86 CENTENNIAL DINNER. 

not be expected thsit I should make much of a speech at this time. I was 
pleased with the address of the Kev. Dr. Sears. It comprises the sum and 
substance of human economy. As a citizen and quasi native of this State, 
I feel a superior interest in its concerns. I have resided here, now, just 
about sixty-one years ; that is, I came here in the summer of 1804. I am 
thinking how many there are here, now, that have resided within the boun- 
daries of North Pro-vidence for that length of time, — my neighbor Captain 
Dexter, perhaps, and a very few others. I have, for a great length of 
years, in addition to my other professional pursuits, — my historical pursuits 
of a denominational character, and my general pursuits of all objects suita- 
ble for man to pursue, — been attending to the collection of items and remi- 
niscences pertaining to the history of this State and vicinity. A number 
of them have been touched upon in the discourse to which you, this morn- 
ing, listened. Some that I hinted to my friend, the orator, he had not time 
to introduce. I am still in pursuit of such items, and desire, in the first 
place, to get an account of who were the first settlers here when the abo- 
rigines were the sole inhabitants,- — to get an account of the very first shanty 
or log cabin built within this region. Only a little while ago, my friend, 
Eev. Dr. Taft, asked me if Joseph Jexks, senior, was hona jidc the first 
white man that came and resided about Pawtucket Falls. I replied that it 
had always been my general impression that he was ; I had not studied into 
the subject, but would do so. I told my friend, Rev. Mr. Goodrich, all 
I could say about the matter. The probability is, that some people settled 
hei-e before Joseph Jenks, senior, built his little shanty. The old stone- 
chimney house was moved farther up the river, because they wanted to 
run the street by the river side. It stood, formerly, just below the Town 
Clerk's Office, — just about where the street now is. It was moved after 
Joseph Jexks died. 

Well, now as to the moral character of the vicinity. It has been 
greatly celebrated for sectarian peculiarities during the whole period of my 
own life, — two generations of men, as they are ordinarily estimated. I 
have been accustomed to hear sneering remarks respecting the want of a 
certain something found in other sects, in the State of Khode Island. It 
was a maxim, long ago, that any man who had lost his religion and wanted 
to find it, should go into the State of Rhode Island, where there was a flood 
of religions of all sorts. There is something in this. In eai-ly times, the 



CENTENNIAL DINNER. 87 

neighboring States were ilownright intolerant. Tliere is no use in mincing 
the matter. Culpa tcrnporum, — it was the fault of the times. There were 
many pcojjle persecuted for want of orthodox opinions. Some were loose 
in their tenets ; others were very conscientious and sincere. The conscien- 
tious part went to Rhode Island. The loose and irreverent part also fled 
there and found shelter. It was engraven on tlic first bell of the old 
Providence Meeting House, as you, perhaps, remember, — 

"For freedom of conscience the town was first i)lanteU; 
Persuasion, not force, was used by the people: 
This church is the oldest, and has not recanted, 
Enjoying and granting bell, temple and steeple." 

I suppose this was intended to be a hit, not only at the neigliboring pro- 
vince, but was also an allusion to Old England, where dissenters could not 
have steeples on their houses of worship. 

There is another point connected with the history of Rhode Island. 
Callender, in his centenary discourse, delivered one hundred years after 
Rhode Island was settled, says: "There is an advantage in having religion 
established by law, in having houses of worship established and maintained 
without the troid>le of voluntary collections. But there is a growth of 
formality and a loss of spirituality which want of religious freedom particu- 
larly superinduces." 

But, notwithstanding all the imperfections of old Rhode Island, I feel 
attached to her and cannot help it. 

The village of Pawtucket, — wluit was it when I came here, sixty years 
ago? Our orator, to-day, has given some description of it. I believe 
there were but fifty houses within half a mile of the bridge, on both sides 
of the river. It was a steady population, — a pretty regidar population, — 
until ship-building came in and brought a set of Iiands rather wanting in 
stability. Afterwards, cotton mills came in, and emploj-ers were obliged to 
pick up hands from all quarters. It was exceedingly uncomfortable, and 
tills class of people were very unpopular. And even against Mr. Sla- 
ter, — would you think it of a man so famous ? — there was a prejudice 
because he was an Englishman and a foreigner. This lasted some time, 
and attached to everything pertaining to cotton manufacturing. JosiAU 
Wilkinson did not want Mr. Slater to form a connection with his 



S8 CENTENNIAL DINNER. 

* daughter. Wlieu the two Latter were m conversation, one evening, Josiah 
abruptly said, " Hannah, it is time for thee to go to bed." Tiiat showed 
the prejudice he had against Mr. Slater, and tliat he did not want his 
daughter to continue tlie conversation. The manufacturers were obliged 
to pick up all sorts of help, in every place, from Dan to Beersheba. They 
could get no other than such as they did. Peo[)le considered the place a 
very nest of corruption and disorder, with a helter-skelter population. 
They compared it to " forty live crabs in a bucket." 

Mr. Pierce has noted a singular peculiarity in the fact that they had 
to pick cotton by hand, — the long-staple cotton. In my jiarochial visits, I 
would often find the women each with a basket of cotton waste before them, 
and they got as mucli for picking the waste as the cotton has been sold for, 
ordinarily, before the war. 

I cannot go into details concerning the Sunday-school cause. Capt. 
Dexter and myself disagree a little about dates. I was not present at the 
formation of the first Sunday school. I came to the place a short time 
afterwards. I became chief manager of the Sunday school. I have sub- 
scription papers in my possession on which cotton mill owners were the 
only subscribers to the funds for procuring preachers, teachers, books, and 
everything that was required. 

Mr. Bradley. There is one theme which, at every festival gatherino-, 
is left to the last. That must be the worthiest and the best. And I shall 
call upon the most acceptable person, namely, the bachelor clergyman, to 
answer to the last regular toast, which is — 

The Ladies— While we acconl to man clue praise for his enterprise and labors, we do 
not forget that woman, by her virtues and graces, her aftections and s.acrifioes, her restrain- 
ing influences and wholesome admonitions, contributes lier full share to those features of 
society and those enterprises most acceptable to the Creator and His creatures. 

I will call upon Mr. Spauldixg to respond. 

REMARKS OF MR. C. H. SPAULDING. 

Mr. President: 

I hardly know wherein consists the peculiar sacredness of this subject, 
that a clergyman should be called upon to speak in reference to it. It was 



CENTENNIAL DINNER. 89 

with great reluctance that I consented to do so. I think, perhaps, that I 
could have found greater inspiration at an earlier hour than this. But there 
is some left, surely. 

We, to-day, are celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of this 
town. We have seen that there was a link which allied the town to the 
nation and to the commonwealth. It becomes me now to say that there is 
another step in this gradation, — an ultimate point which is strongly allied 
to the town, through the town to the commonwealth, and through the com- 
monwealth to the nation. Need I say that that ultimate point is the home 
where is felt the influence of the Christian mother and of the Christian 
system. I read before me, to-day, in a most beautiful pro^jhecy of the 
future, what is to pi-oceed from the home ; for I see " Louisiana " (or the 
lady bearing the name of that State) beside " Maine." I see, singular!)- 
enough, " Rhode Island " between " Florida " and " Tennessee." I see all 
these States linked together, to-day, in this beautiful picture. And what is 
the influence that is to effect this ? It is the influence of Christian mothers 
and of Christian sisters. Through the influence of these, there is to be 
brought about a beautiful fulfillment of the prophecy, '" Mei-cy and Truth 
have met together : Rijihteousness and Peace have kissed each other." 

I will mention two incidents which will illustrate the point. We have 
no more beautiful picture, in our American histor}', than that of our im- 
mortal Washington, about to depart from his home to the high and 
responsible offices which awaited him, receiving the benediction of a Chris- 
tian mother. I recollect, when a lad, hearing the orator of the day, on 
some great festive occasion, make the statement : "This George Wash- 
ington had a good mother, and that was tlie secret of his greatness." 
And so we may say that there is a great deal of unwritten and unrecorded 
heroism which proceeds from the home where a mother has sent forth to 
the war, with a " God bless you, my son," those who have fought and 
suffered for us, yea, died for us ; and we, to-day, through their unwritten 
heroism, are enjoying the fruits of peace, which wc trust will be as lasting 
as time. 

There is one other incident to which I will allude, and that is the letter 
which was written to Mrs. Lincoln by Queen Victoria of England. 
Ever since the death of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria has presented 
one of the most beautiful spectacles of grief and son-ow which the world 

12 



90 CENTENNIAL DINNER. 

has known ; and who, more fittingly than herself, could have written a 
letter of condolence to Mrs. Lincoln in the hour of her great sorrow ? 

Yes, in the picture before me we read a beautiful prophecy of the future 
greatness of our country. 

Me. Bradley. I am almost unwilling to say anything which shall 
disturb the picture, in living canvass, to which the speaker alludes. I 
would we might carry the memory of it with us when we leave this place. 
But I fear that it is nearly time to bring the exercises to a close. The 
pleasure we have had has been largely owing to the kindness of the gen- 
tlemen who have addressed you. 

The following volunteer sentiment was given : 
The Xew Pol,iCE Couet of Pawtpcket — Behold " a second Da-SEEI, come to judgment." 

Responded to by Mr. Damel Wllkinson. 

REMARKS OF MR. DANIEL WILKINSON. 

There used to be a play among young folks, when I went to see the 
girls, called " cross questions and unlucky answers," and I think this illus- 
trates it exactly. I was notified that there was a sentiment to be read 
applying to me, but they would not tell me what It was. You may all 
take off your hats to me imtil the first day of July. The court will not 
be organized till then. After that, if any of these gentlemen, clergymen or 
laymen, are brought before me, as Justice, I shall endeavor to administer 
to them according to their deserts, and treat them more fairly than I have 
been treated in this respect. 

Mr. Bradlet. Is it your pleasure that we shall hear what remains to 
be beard from the lips of the beautiful and fair ? If so, we will turn to 
them in silence. 

"America " was then sung bv a choir of voung ladies, the band accom- 
panying them. 

]\Ir. Bradley. Let us close this celebration with the wish, that the 
good old mother town will not wait another hundred years before she 
assembles her children under the roof-tree of the old homestead again. 



APPENDIX 



NOTE. 



In the preparation of the foregoing address, I have been haunted by the dread of 
making it too long. For this reason I have omitted many things, whicli, tlimigli interest- 
ing, seemed of minor consequence. Now that the final sentence is penned, I find that I 
could have used more space without rebuke. I therefore append, at the suggestion of some 
of our older citizens, the "Reminiscences of David Wilkinson." These have been pre- 
viously published, but are not, |>erhaps, generally accessible. It has also seemed to me 
desirable to publish, in a shape convenient for preservation, a history of the various bridges 
built over the Pawtucket. This history was published in the Gazette and Chronicle of 
April 8th, 18«. 

M. G. 



APPENDIX. 



DAVID WILKINSON'S REMINISCENCES. 

Autumn, 1846. 

IN APRIL, 1776, Eleazer Smith, who had been at work for Jere- 
miah Wilkinson, junior, a Quaker, of Cumberland, came to my 
father's blacksmith shop, which was making scythes, in the town of Cum- 
berland, Ehode Island, to make a machine to manufacture card-teeth, for 
Daniel Anthony, of Providence, who was going into the card-making 
business. While at work. Smith told my father of Jeremiah Wilkin- 
son's making card-tacks of cold iron. In laying the strip of leather around 
the hand-card, he lacked four large tacks to hold the corners in place while 
driving the tacks around the outer edge. He took a plate of an old door- 
lock off the floor, cut four points with shears, and made heads In the vice : 
but afterwards made a steel bow with scores in it, and put it ni the vice, 
and in that way made tacks. 

I think, in 1777, my flither made a small pinch-press, with different 
sized Impressions, placed on an oak log, with a stirrup for the foot, and set 
me astraddle on the log, to heading nails, which were cut with common 
shears. He cut the points off of plates drawn liy trip-hammer. This was 
the commencement, in the world, of making nails from cold iron. 

I think, about 1820, I went to Cumberland with Samuel Greene, my 
nephew, and purchased of Jeremiah Wilkinson the old shears with 
which he cut the first four nails. He was, I think, ninety years of age at 
that time. The shears were a pair of tailor's shears, with bows straight- 



94 APPENDIX. 

ened out, and tlic blades cut off lialf the lengtli. They were deposited 
with the Historical Society, in Providence, by Samuel Greexe. 

My father, OziEL Wilkinson, lived in the town of Smithficld, Ehode 
Island, in 177o, at the commencement of the war, and owned a blacksmith 
shop, with a hammer worked by water. It was here, Eleazek Smith 
made the machine for Daniel Anthony. I was then about five years 
old, and my curiosity was so great to see the work going on, that my father 
set me on Mr. Smith's bench, to look on, while he worked. And at this 
time, — seventy years afterwards, — I could make a likeness of nearlj^ every 
piece of that machine, — so durable are the first impressions on the mind of 
youth. After Smith had finished the machine, so as to make a perfect 
card-tooth, he told the people in the shop that he could make a machine to 
make the tooth, prick the leather, and set the tooth, at one operation. 

Jeremiah Wilkinson carried on the business of making hand-cards 
for carding sheep's wool, and it being difficult to import wire, he drew the 
wire out by horse power. 

In 1784 or 1785, my father put the anchor shop in operation at Paw- 
tucket Falls, on the Blackstone Kiver, in Xorth Providence, Ehode Island. 

About this time, I heard of cotton yarn being made in or near East 
Greenwich, in which John Reynolds and James Macareis, who em- 
ployed a Mr. Mackwire, or Maguire, to make yarn on a jenny, for which 
I forged and ground spindles. I made a small machine to grind with, which 
had a roller of wood to roll on the stone, which turned the spindle against 
the stone, and so ground the steel spindles perfectly. I heard of no ma- 
chines for cardin<r cotton. 

About this time, also, a number of gentlemen in the town of Providence 
commenced some machinery for working cotton. Andrew Dexter, mer- 
chant, the fiither of S. Newton Dexter, of Orickany, Oneida county, 
New York ; Aaron Mann, father of Samuel F. Mann, of Providence ; 
Lewis Peck, merchant; Daniel Anthony, and, I think, Moses Brown, 
of Providence, were aiding in the work. My father was applied to, to 
make iron work for a machine for carding cotton, which was done by the 
help of a carpenter named Joshua Lindley, and a brass founder named 
Daniel Jackson, father of Samuel and John Jackson, of Providence. 
The card circles, or rims, were made of wrought iron, as there was no fur- 
nace near. The card was put in operation in the Market House chamber. 



APPENDIX. 95 

in Providence, and was turned by a colored man named Prixce Hopkins, 
who had lost one leg, and, I think, one arm, in Sullivan's Expedition at 
Newport, a few years before. The cotton was taken from the card in rolls 
about eitrhteen inches lonir, and carried one mile from town to MoSES 
Brown's, where it was made into roping by a young woman in ilr. 
Brown's employ, named Amey Lawrence. 

About this time, too, Daniel Anthony made a trip to Bridgewatcr, 
and returning, said he had some parts of a machine called the Arkavright 
water-frame, which was commenced by a European in the employ ot 
Colonel Orr, of Bridgewater, and given up, or the few parts thrown by. 
He soon had one under way in Providence, which was made and finished 
in Pawtucket, and put in operation there by Anthony's two sons, Joseph 
and Richard, assisted, occasionally, by two other sons, Daniel and 
William. The rollers were made of half-inch wrought iron, with swells 
of brass cast on, and fluted with files. The bobbin which received the 
yarn from the spindle was made with a score in the bottom, to receive a 
cross cat-cut twine, with a tiohteninf;- wooden thumb-screw, like a violin, 
to regulate the taking up ; — which Mr. Slater performed in his first 
water-frames, by making a wide flat bottom to the bobbin, set on a wooden 
cloth-washer, to regulate the taking up, as the friction would increase by 
weight as the bobbin filled, and needed more friction. (Mr. Slater ran 
his first machinery by rope bands, for his carding-machines, roping and 
drawing, as the use of belts was not then known in this country. The first 
leather belts I ever heard of were made by John Blackburn, when he 
was setting a mule in operation for Mr. Slater. jSIr. Slater informed 
me there had been a new machine for making yarn, got up in England, 
which was a mixture of the jack and jenny and the Arkwright water- 
frame.) 

I assisted the Anthonys in finishing and keeping in order their ma- 
chine. 

There being no cotton-gins at the South, they (the Providence people 
above referred to) imported some of the cotton in seed, and picked it off^ 
by hand, which being in bad condition, and the machinery imperfect, they 
made some few tons of yarn, and laid the machinery by. Moses Brown 
bought the machinery; and advertised in New York, which brought Mr. 
Samuel Slater to Providence. 



96 APPENDIX. 

Mr. Slater came out with Moses Bkown to my father's, at Paw- 
tucket, to commence an Arkavright water-frame, and breaker, and two 
finishers, carding-machines. I forged the iron work, and turned the rollers 
and spindles, in part. All the turning was done with hand tools, and by 
hand power, with crank-wheels. When the card-rims and wheels were 
wanting, I went with Slater to Mansfield, Massachusetts, to a furnace 
owned by a French gentleman named Dauby, who came, I think, with 
Lafayette's army, who has a son and one daughter now living in Utica 
and Auburn. Tiie card-rims broke in cooling. Mr. Slater said the iron 
shrunk more than the English iron. I told him we would make a crooked 
arm, that would let the rim move round, — the anus being carried one way, 
and when the hub cooled, would return, and leave the wheel not divided 
against itself, — which proves a remedy in all cases, if the arms are made 
the width the right way, to let the curve spring easy, with sufficient strength 
of iron. I told him cast iron broke more often by division in its own family, 
than by labor. 

About the year 17813-7, my father bought the machinery for cutting 
iron screws, — called the fly-screw, for pressing paper, — of Israel Wil- 
kinson, of Smithfield, the son of Israel who built the Hope Furnace for 
the Browns and others ; and with the help of a Mr. Crabb, who was 
employed by the Browns, — John, Joseph, Nicholas and Moses, — in 
building the sperm-candle works on what is now called India Point. They 
used a screw of cast iron, about seven inches in diameter, and five or six 
feet long, which was cut by setting it upright, with a wooden guide-screw, 
which was connected with an iron socket, with a mortice to hold the cutter, 
which was fastened with an iron wedge. 

After Wilkinson had finished the candle-works, with Mr. Crabb, he 
put in operation works for making screws, in Smithfield, and cut in the 
same manner as the Plnglish plan, brought over by Mr. Crabb. The old 
man (old Israel Wilkinson) went to different furnaces in Massachusetts 
to mould his screws. There were no moulders who would undertake it. 
My father had once seen old Israel Wilkinson mould one screw, and, 
after he had bought these old tools of young Israel, as he was called, and 
at a time when he wanted some moulding done, he took me, — then about 
fifteen years old, — into his chaise and carried me to Hope Furnace, about 
fourteen miles from Providence, in Scituate, to mould a pajJcr mill screw. 



APPENDIX. 97 

as they had no mouhler at their furnace who wouhl undertake to mould 
one. I had never seen a furnace in operation, or seen a tiling moulded, in 
my life. I moulded three or four screws hefore I left for home. I stayed 
there about a month. The screws weighed about five hundred pounds 
each,— were five inch top, with cross holes seven inches diameter, thrcjiigh 
a lantern head for a lever seven inches diameter. They were cast in dried- 
clay moulds, hooped and strapped with Iron bands. I took the screws 
home to Pawtucket, and cut and finished them there. They were made 
for Hudson & Goodwin, of New York, and Lazarus Beach, of Dan- 
bury, Connecticut. We made many screws of wrought iron for clothiers' 
presses and oil mills, but they were imperfect, and I told my father I 
wanted to make a machine to cut screws on centres, which would make 
them more perfect. He told me I might commence one. My father, in 
1791, built a small air furnace, or reverberatory, for casting iron, in which 
were cast the first wing-gudgeons known in America, to our knowledge, 
for Samuel Slater's old factory. 

On my way home from the Hope Furnace, I called at the ore bed in 
Cranston, and found Mr. Ormsbee, (I tliink, Elijah,) of Providence, 
repairing the large steam engine, which raised the water seventy-two feet 
from the bottom of the ore pits. The engine was made with the main 
cylinder open at the top, and the piston raised with a large balance lever, 
as the news of the cap on the cylinder, by Bolton & Watt, had not yet 
come to this country when that engine was built. Mr. Ormsbee told me 
he had been reading of a boat being put in operation by steam, at the city 
of Philadelphia, and if I would go home with him and build the engine, he 
would build a steamboat. I went home and made my patterns, cast and 
bored the cylinder, and made the wrought iron work ; and Ormsbee lured 
a large boat of John Brown, belonging to one of his large India ships, — 
should think about twelve tons. I told him of two plans of paddles ; one, 
I called the flutter wheel, and the other, the goose-foot paddle. We made 
the goose-foot, to open and shut with hinges, as the driving power could 
be much cheaper applied than the paddle wheel. After we had got the 
boat nearly done, Charles Bobbins made a pair of paddle wheels, and 
attached them to a small skiflT, and ran about with a crank, by hand power. 
After haviu"- the steamboat in operation, we exhibited it near Providence, 
between the two bridges ; I think, while the bridges were being built. 

13 



98 APPENDIX. 

After our frulic was over, being short of funds, we haulL'd the boat up and 
gave it over. 

About tiiis time, a young man called on me, and wished to see the boat, 
and remained a day or two, examiniqg all the works. He told me his 
name was Daniel French, from Connecticut. I never knew where he 
came from, nor where he went. 

Some three or four years after we laid our boat by, I was at New York, 
and saw some work connnenced at Fulton's Works, for steamboat shafts, 
and saw a small steamboat in North River, built by Col. John Stevens, of 
Hoboken. I went over to his place, and saw his boring-mill. I thought 
he was ahead of Fulton, as an inventor. 

In the winter of 1814-15, hearing of a trial which was coming on 
before the legislature of New Jersey, between Robert Fulton and Col. 
Ogden of New Jersey, I had the curiosity to attend, — as I always thought 
it singular that the idea of the paddle wheel should strike two persons so, 
at the same time, at such a distance apart ; yet I knew so simple a thing 
might happen. I learned, in Trenton, that Fulton had said he made the 
draft of the wheel in London. The case in court was manaojed for Ogden, 
by HoPKiNSON and Southard ; and for Fulton, by Emmet and Samp- 
son. I, being a stranger tliere, was in the crowd to learn what I could. 
After the trial was over, — in company with Emmet, Sampson, Fulton, 
and others, — I took stage for New York ; and, in the midst of an extremely 
heavy snow storn, walhnved our way along as far as Jersey City, where we 
found all the houses full, and no mail had crossed to New York for two 
days. Fulton, Emmet and Sampson took a boat, with four oarsmen, and 
got over by crossing the cakes of floating ice, and launching the boat several 
times. The boat returned with General Brown and suite. The next boat 
took me, with several others. Not long after I arrived home, I saw an 
account of Fulton's death. 

About the year 1840, I was on the railroad from Utica to Albany, with 
an aged gentleman in the cars, and the subject of steam power came up, 
when I informed him of my early acquaintance with steam power, &c. 
He was a well-informed man, and, I think, had been a member of Assem- 
bly. He said he thought more credit had been given to Fulton than was 
his due ; that Col. John Stevens was more deserving than 'Fulton. I 
told him I never thought Fulton an inventor, but simply a busy collector 



APPENDIX. 99 

of otlicr people's inventions. "Well," replied the gentleman, "I always 
said so ; and he would never have succeeded had it not been for Daniel 
French." "What do you mean by Daniel Fkencii?" asked I. "Why, 
a Yankee," said he, " that Fulton kept locked up for six months, making 
drafts for him." 

The name of Daniel French burst upon my ears for the first time for 
forty-nine vears, and almost explained some mysteries. 

In 170S, wlien in Philadelphia, I called in at the Museum, and saw an 
old bald-head eagle walking about the yard. The keeper, who, I think, 
was named Peal, told me the eagle was ninety-six years old ; that he was 
taken from the nest ninety-six years before, at Halifax, or Nova Scotia, 
and that he would have a new bill, in four years. Four years after, I saw 
mention in a Philadelphia paper that the old eagle had got a new bill on. 
I had never seen any other account of the eagle, except in Scripture, — of 
his renewing his age, like the eagle. 

In or about 1794, Col. Noami Baldwin came from Boston to Paw- 
tueket after machinery for a canal he was going to make, North, from Bos- 
ton. We made the patterns and cast his wheels, racks, &c., and he took 
them to Charlestown and finished the locks. I was there and saw the 
operation. It being the first canal in the country, a good deal of curiosity 
was excited among the people. 

••About this time, I saw the platform hay-scales at Charlestown Neck, at 
what was called Page's Tavern. The plan of the scales was brought from 
Ireland by a Mr. Cox, of Boston, wdio built the old Warren Bridge, from 
Boston to Charlestown, and who was called to Ireland to build a bridge 
there. On his return to Boston, he brought a three-wheeled carriage, with 
a Shetland pony, for his son, and the plan of the platform scales, which 
has been the subject of so many patents in the United States. 

We cast, at Pawtucket, the iron for the draw for the Cambridge 
Bridge. 

A Mr. Mills, who built the South Boston Bridge, came to me for the 
machinery for the bridge. I fixed the patterns, and went to Eaynham, got 
the castings, and carried them to Boston, for the first new bridge. 

Jeptha Wilkinson, junior, nephew of Jeremiah Wilkinson, 
invented a machine for making weavers' steel reeds by water power. 

Gardner Wilkinson invented the rolling axletree, in two parts, so 



100 APPENDIX. 

useful on railroad curves, &c. He also made the mortising macdiinc, and, 
I think, he and his brother made the pivot bridge used on canals. 

About 17U4, my father built a rolling and slitting mill at Pawtiickct, 
on the gudgeon of the wheel of which I put my new screw machine in 
operation, which was on the principle of the gauge or sliding-lathe, now in 
every workshop almost throughout the world ; the perfection of which 
consists in that most faithful agent, gravity, making the joint, and that 
almighty perfect number, three, which is harmony itself. I was young 
when I learnt that principle. I had never seen my grandmother putting 
a chip under a three-legged niilking-stool ; but she always had to ])Ut a 
chip under a four-legged table, to keep it steady. I cut screws of all 
dimensions by this machine, and did them perfectly. 

I now made a model in miniature, and had thought of trying to procure 
a patent, but was afraid there might be something somewhere to interfere 
with me, already in use. So I started off" to make incjiiiries. I went to 
New York, and ibund an Englishman in Greenwich street, on North IJiver, 
named Bart<>n% making clothiers' screws. He was welding an iron guide 
on the end of his taj), and forcing it through a socket with an iron bar, by 
hand, which was the old imperfection that troubled me always. I could 
hear of no other in New York. I had heard of one in Canaan, in Con- 
necticut. I went on board a sloop, old Captain WiCks, of Long Island, 
master, bound for Albany. In five days I landed at Fishkill, and went 
ashore, and walked some thirty miles to Canaan. I found screws made 
there by Foruks & Adajis, by water power, but they welded on, and 
forced through a socket in the old way. I heard of screws being made in 
Canaan, from AnuAM Burt, of Taunton, Massachusetts. He called at 
Pawtucket, and looking at the old machine I was at work with by horse 
power, said he had been making screws, at Canaan, by water power ; that 
he could " set his cutter in the socket, draw the gate, and then it lathered 
away like the devil," which I fully believed when I saw the machine. I 
returned to New York, and from there went to Philadelphia, and found no 
screws made there except after the same mode as in New York. I heard 
of screws being made on the Brandywine, but my informant assured me 
they were made the same way as his, and Barton's, at New York. I now 
returned home ; and, in the year 1797, went on to Philadelphia, when 
Congress was in session, and made application for a patent ; Mr. Joseph 



APPENDIX. 101 

TiLLTNGHAST, then a Senator from Rhode Island, assisting me. On my 
return home, my father informed me tliat Jacob Perkins had been there, 
and wanted to sec my maciiine ; and that when he saw it, he laughed out, 
and remarked that he could do his engraving on cast steel, for bank-note 
plates, with that machine ; that he could make a hair stroke with that, for 
it would never tremble ; that he could put an oval under the end of the rut, 
and, with an eccentric, make all his oval figures. I suppose Mr. Pekkins 
afterwards derived great benefit from the thin"-. 

Whilst I Avas at work on Slateii's machinery, the owners were unwill- 
ing that I sliould make a slide-lathe on the principle of my screw machine, 
which was made for large turning: it was too heavy for cotton machinery. 
Mr. Slater said he had heard of one being made in England since he left, 
which would turn rollers. He wrote to Derbyshire, to his brother, John 
Slater, to come over, and bring a man who could build one. John came, 
and brought a Mr. JoHX Blackburn, who made a slide-lathe, which was 
on the principle of the old Muting machine, with the slide-rest grooved in, 
in four edges, on two-edged bars, forced in towards each other by wedges, 
in mortices, behind the tenon. They worked this lathe some few weeks, 
and then threw it out of doors, and afterwards did their work by the old 
hand-tool, as before. 

About that time, my fiither, brothers, brothers-in-law — William 
W1LKIX8ON and Timothy Greene — and James, William and Chris- 
topher Rhodes, purchased a water power on the Quinnebaug River, 
Connecticut, at Pomfret, and commenced building a cotton factory. These 
owners consented that I might build a gauge-lathe like my large one. I 
then went to work, and made my patterns in Sylvanus Brown's shop, in 
Pawtucket. I left out the three friction rollers from under the rut, as for 
light work and slow motion I was willins to risk the friction. 

About this time, a company in Providence got a master-machinist from 
England, named Samuel Ogden, to build a factory at Hope Furnace. 
He was a man of great experience and good abilities. He advised me, as 
a friend, to abandon my new machine ; " for," said he, " you can ne'er do 
it, for we have tried it out and out at 'ome, and given it up ; and don't vou 
think we should have been doing it at 'owe, if it could have been done ? " 

Mr. Pitkin, of East Hartford, had an Englishman, named Warbur- 
TON, with him, building a factory. Warburton told me, " they could 



102 APPENDIX. 

never make our work in Europe ; that Watt & Boltox gave it to a man, 
for a month's work, to finlsli a piston rod with liaud tools." 

When I had finished my jiatterns for tlie lathe, and was all ready to 
start, next morning, for the furnace in Foxborough, Sylvaxus Bkowx 
took it into his head to put them into the stove and burn them up. I made 
others then, and got them cast, and made my hitlie, and it worked to a 
charm. Mr. Richaed Axthoxv, wlio was building a factory in Coventry, 
with his brother AVilliam, paid me ten dollars for the use of my lathe 
patterns, to cast after. And this is all I ever received tor so valuable an 
invention. 

Captain Bexjamix Walcott, father of the Walcotts at York Mills, 
Oneida county. New York, and of Edwakd Walcott, of Pawtucket, with 
Nathan J. Sweetlaxd, put the "live centre" arbour, and the rack, in 
place of the screw for the feeder, to a lathe they built afterwards. But, on 
long experience, the screw is found best, and the two " dead centres " will 
make the truest work, though they are not quite so convenient, perhaps, 
as the " live centre " arbour. But the two great principles of my machine 
can never be improved upon, — that is, three beari/u/s to the rest, and loeight 
to hold it down, where you may weigh your friction to an ounce. 

The slide-lathe has been sent to all parts of the world. A certain 
mechanic commenced business in this country, but after using one of my 
slide-lathes a while, he bought one, and returned to England with it ; 
remarking, that with that lathe in England, he could do better than at any 
business he could get into in this country. 

It was unfortunate for me, patenting my machine when the machine- 
making and manufacturing business, in this country, was only in its infancv. 
The patent would run out before it could be brought into very extensive 
use. It certainly did run out without my deriving that benefit from the 
invention I was so justly entitled to. One solitary ten-dollar note is surely 
but small recompense for an improvement that is wcuth all the other tools 
in use in any workshop in the world, for finishing brass and iron work. 

The weighted slide, the joint made by gravity, apj)lies to planing, turn- 
ing, and boring of metals of every kind, and every way, as it needs no 
watching ; and, instead of wearing out of repair, it is always wearing into 
repair. 

I was always too much engaged in various business to look after and 



APPENDIX. 103 

make profit out of mj' inventions. Other people, I hope, gained something 
by them. 

We built machinery to go to almost every part of the country, — to 
Pomfret and Killingly, Connecticut ; to Haitford, Vermont ; to Waltham, 
Norton, Eaynham, Plymouth, Halifax, Plympton, Middleboro", and other 
places in ilassachusetts ; for Wall & Wells, Trenton, New Jersey ; for 
Union & Gray, on the Patapsco ; for the Warren Factories, on the Gun- 
powder, near Baltimore ; to Tarboro' and Martinburgh, North Carolina ; 
to two factories in Georgia ; to Louisiana ; to Pittsburgh ; to Delaware ; 
to Virginia, and other places. Indeed, Pawtucket was doing something 
for almost every part of the Union, and I had my hands too full of busi- 
ness, and was laboring too much for the general j^rosperity to take proper 
care of the details, perhaiis, and the advancement of my own individual 
interests. 

In 1829, we all broke down : and, although I was sixty years of age 
and in very bad healtli, I thought I would move away, and see if I could 
not earn ray own living. I moved, with my family, to Cohoes Falls, in the 
State of New Yoi'k, and there fixed my new home. I have since recovered 
my health wonderfully, and, at this moment, being about seventy-six years 
old, I am hearty and well, — enjoy my food as well as any one, and can bear 
a good deal of fatigue and exposure. Few men of my age enjoy their 
faculties and health l)etter than I do. Have I not much to be thankful for? 
I have, and am most sincerely thankful to a merciful God for the many and 
srreat blessings. 

The prospects at Cohoes were flattering for a time. But nullification, 
free trade, and such abominations, killed the new village just born. Euro- 
peans, who were applying for water power at Cohoes, at this time, went 
away, saying, — now we were going to have free trade, they could do our 
work cheaper at " 'onie " than they could in this country, and they would 
build their factories there. 

We were compelled, now, to get our living where we could, — to go 
abroad if we could not tret work at home. I went to w^ork on the Dela- 
ware and Raritan Canal, in New Jersey : then on the St. Lawrence 
improvements, in Canada ; then to Ohio, on the Sandy and Beaver 
Canal ; then to the new Wire Bridge, on the Ottawa Piver, at Bvtowu, 



104 APPENDIX. 

Canada, and Virginia. Wlierevev I could find anytiiing to do, I went ; 
and it is wonderful how I endured exposure to wet and cold as I did. 

In 183.5-6, while engaged on the St. Lawrence Kiver, I met a gentle- 
man at Kingston, who advised me to go back of the Rideau Lake, to get 
what I wanted, about seventy miles north of Kingston, to a village named 
Perth, which was siven to the officers and soldiers who served in the late 
war with the United States. At the hotel at Perth, the landlord showed 
me a silver clasp, which was taken from the leg of a large eagle which was 
shot in the village. The plate, or clasp, was from some place in Connec- 
ticut ; I do not remember the town, nor the person's name ; but directed to 
Henrt Clay. It was after the war, and the bearer of the express proba- 
bly thought he might safely take a circuitous route through the British 
provinces. But these Canadians didn't like the name of Heney. Clay ; 
his policy had too anti-British a tendency to suit them ; so they took the 
poor express eagle as a spy, I suppose, and refused to sell the clasp at any 
price. Perhaps they wanted to have the story to tell, that our American 
eagle had been struck to them, at least. 

These are the recollections of an old man, and you will please take 

them for what they are worth. If they are worth anything to any one, 

I shall be glad. To yourself, I believe they will be valuable, and be the 

means of recalling many ^ileasant incidents of olden times, and of an old 

friend. 

David Wilkinson. 

CoJioes, Albany County, N. Y., December 1, 184G. 
Rev. George Taft, Pawtuchet, R. I. 



HISTORY OF PAWTUCKET BRIDGES. 

The following interesting history of the bridges built over the Paw- 
tucket Eiver was presented by the Presidents of Firewards, at the annual 
meeting of the District of Pawtucket, held on April 4tli, 18G4 : 

The Presidents of Firewards take this opportunity to congratulate the 



APPENDIX. 105 

citizens of the District upon being relieved from all liabilities assumed by 
them more than six years ago, toward the erection of the stone bridge 
across the river in this village. It will be renioinbered, by most of you, 
that bonds to the anioiuit of twelve tliousaiid dollars were issued by the 
District, tlic payment of which was assumed and guaranteed by the .State 
of Rhode Island. Tlie last of these bonds, for two thousands dollars, fell 
due on the first day of July last, and was paid, thereby relieving the 
District from any further liabilities. 

As the building of the present stone bridge, of such a substantial and 
permanent character, was an event of the greatest importance to the busi- 
ness and travel of our village, it has been suggested that a brief and com- 
prehensive sketch or history of the \arlous bridges across the river at this 
place, running back nearly or quite one hundred and fifty years, might 
prove interesting to the present inhabitants, and find a place on the records 
of the District, which can be referred to in years to come. 

From an examination of the State records of Rhode Island and Massa- 
chusetts, it has been ascertained that, up to the year 174(3, the bridges were 
built and kept in repair by the two States jointly. In 1712, a joint com- 
mittee was appointed by the two States, to make a thorough examination 
of the bridge then standing, and, if in their judgment they deemed it 
necessary, they were authorized and empowered to destroy the old bridge 
and build a new one. At that time, the bridge crossed the river over the 
" Fishing Rock," (so called,) a little south of the present locality, and the 
road passed up through the coal-yard to Main street. The bridge and the 
roads connected with it, at that time, constituted a part of the great 
thoroughfare for travel from Boston, tlu-ough the State of Rhode Island, to 
New York. 

In 17-J:fj, the General Assembly of Rhode Island appointed a connnittee 
to run a new boundary line between this State and Massachusetts, and 
from that time up to the present, Massachusetts has refused to appropriate 
any money towai'ds said bridge, or to exercise any ownership or control 
over it. 

From 1712 to 1840, Rhode Island, as appears by tlie records of the 
General Assembly, took action and passed votes and resolutions in more 
than eighty instances, in relation to the Pawtucket Bridge. 

The records of the town of North Providence also show various reso- 

14 



106 APPENDIX. 

lutions and votes, — the appointment of committees, and the apjiropriatlon 
of money for repairs and toward the erection of the bridge. 

On tlie loth day of February, 1807, about two-thirds of the west end 
of tiie bridge was swept away by wliat is called the " Great Freshet." 
The General Assembly of Rhode Island took immediate action in the 
matter, and appointed Abraham Wilkinson, who was the Representative 
from North Providence at the time, a committee to rebuild the bridge, and 
an appropriation was made for that purpose. 

In 1817, the bridge was rebuilt, (under the direction of JoHN W. Dex- 
ter, Surveyor of Highways for North Providence,) principally by an 
appropriation from the town of North Providence. 

In 1832, the bridge was again rebuilt, under the supervision and direc- 
tion of Messrs. Clark Sayles and Isaac Ellis, at an expense of about 
sixteen hundred dollars, — six hundred of which was an appropriation from 
the town of North Providence, and the balance of one thousand dollars, by 
subscription made by the inhabitants on both sides of the river. 

In 1839, the bridge needing repairs, much dissatisfaction was expressed 
by the tax-payers of North Providence at being further taxed, believing 
that the bridtje belonged to the State of Rhode Island, and that the State 
should bear the expense. Messrs. Stephen Randall, Jr., and Edward 
S. Wilkinson who were the members of the General Assembly from 
North Providence, commenced an examination of the i^ecords of the Gen- 
eral Assembly, to ascertain who rightfully should maintain the bridge. 
Commencing back nearly or quite one hundred and fifty years, and making 
a careful and minute examination, up to the year 1839, they found the 
evidence so strong, that, at the January session of the General Assembly 
in 1810, Mr. Wilkinson introduced a resolution into that body, appoint- 
ing a committee " to ascertain who is bound to keep the bridge over Paw- 
tucket Falls in repair." Messrs. Randolph, of Newport, Mathewsox, 
of Scituate, E. R. Potter, of South Kingstown, Spencer, of Warwick, 
and Bosworth, of Warren, were that committee. Subsequently, Wil- 
liam A. Robinson, of South Kingstown, was appointed in the place of 
E. R. Potter. 

The committee of the General Assembly held several meetings, and the 
evidence that had been collected by Messrs. Randall and Wilkinson 
was laid before them. After hearing all the evidence, the committee came 



APPENDIX. 107 

to the unanimous conclusion that the bridge was State property, and that 
it was incumbent on tlie State to maintain and keep it in repair. In 
accordance with that decision, they submitted their report to the May ses- 
sion of the General Assembly, with a recommendation that the Providence 
and Pawtucket Turnpike (which then had become State property) be 
extended through Pleasant and Main streets in the villase of Pawtucket to 
the Massachusetts line, including the Pawtucket Bridge. In accordance 
with that report, at that same session the following act was passed : 

" Be it enacted hy the General Assembly as folloivs : 

" That said road be, and the same Is hereby extended as the road is 
now established from the present northern termination thereof, to the 
Massachusetts line, including the bridge at Pawtucket Falls, in the town- 
ship of North Providence and in the village of Pawtucket ; and the agent 
of said turnpike, for the State, is hereby directed to take charge of said 
bridge and additional I'oad, and keep the same in proper repair. And said 
agent is also hereby required to make an annual report to the General 
Assembly at its January session." 

At a special session of the General Assembly in March, 1842, the 
following resolutions were introduced by Mr. Edward S. Wilkinson, 
and adopted : 

'■'■Resolved, That Stephen Eandall, Jr., Gideon L. Spencer and 
Edward S. Wilkinson be authorized to erect a substantial wood bridge 
over the falls at Pawtucket, provided the exjiense thereof does not exceed 
the sum of three thousand dollars. 

" Resolved, That the agent of the State having charge of the Pawtucket 
Turnpike Road, be directed (after having paid for the necessary repairs of 
said road) to retain in his hands the balance of the moneys that may be 
collected on the said turnpike, from and after the 1st day of April, 1842, 
for the purpose of paying the expense of erecting the aforesaid bridge ; and 
to pay over the aforesaid amount of three thousand dollars to the order of 
the Building Committee, in such sums and at such times as they may 
require." 



108 APPENDIX. 

The committee at once entered into a contract with jNIr. Albert Cot- 
TRELL, of Ne\v])i)rt, and a new bridge was built in the suninier of 1843, for 
$3000. 

Complaints being made to the General Assembly, at their January 
session, 1857, that tiie bridge was very much out of repair, and even 
dangerous for travel, they appointed a committee, consisting of Jonathan 
C. Kenton, of North Providence, Stephen N. Mason, of Smithfield, 
Nathaniel Spaulding, of Smithfield, and James C. Moulton, of 
Cumberland, and Ohadiah Brown, of North Providence, to examine 
Pawtucket Bridge, and decide whether the present bridge could be re- 
paired, or whether a new bridge would have to be erected. 

The town of North Providence, at their April town meeting of the same 
year, appointed a committee, consisting of John H. Weeden, Gideon L. 
Spencer, Andrew K. Slade, Enoch Brown and Edward S. Wilkin- 
son, to meet and confer with the State committee in rerrard to the bridge. 
Early that season, the State committee met at Pawtucket ; the town com- 
mittee met at the same time, and a thorough examination of the bridtte was 
made. The State committee came to the unanimous conclusion that it was 
absolutely necessary to erect a new bridge, and that it ought to be done 
immediately. Some estimates were made of the cost of a new bridge, and 
it was found that to build a bridge of wood would cost five or six thousand 
dollars; to erect a stone bridge would incur an expense of twelve or fifteen 
thousand dollars. The State committee raised the objection, that the con- 
stitution prohibited the General Assembly from creating a debt exceeding 
the sum of fifty thousand dollars, and that the debt of the State already 
amounted to about that sum. The State committee, with the constitutiona' 
objection, could not see their way clear to recommend the erection of a 
bridge by the State, and decided to rej)ort the facts. 

At this stage of the proceedings, Mr. P^dward S. Wilkinson, one of 
the town committee, stated that he had foreseen the constitutional objection, 
and had been maturing, in his own mind, some pliui to overcome the diffi- 
culty. He then made the proposition, — that the General Assembly should 
authorize the District of Pawtucket to issue its bonds for the purpose of 
raising funds to build a stone bridge. At the same time, the General 
Assembly should pledge the net amount of tolls, collected from the Provi- 
dence and PawtUL'ket Turnpike, for the payment of principal and interest 



APPENDIX. 109 

of said bonds. He estimated that a stone bridge could be erected for about 
twelve thousand dollars. From a careful examination of the receipts of the 
turnpike, the last ten years, a basis could be arrived at to fix the income 
for the next few years. Upon that basis, he estimated that a small annual 
appropriation from the State treasury, together with the annual income from 
the road, two thousand dollars of the principal and the interest on said 
bonds would be paid each year, and that, in the course of six years, the 
whole amount of bonds would be liquidated. This plan was favorably 
received, and, at the request of the committee, he drew up an act, embrac- 
ing the main features as proposed, and also a statement containing an esti- 
mate of the receipts of tolls for the next six years, and also a statement of 
the estimated amount that would annually be required to be paid from the 
State treasury. 

The State committee made their report at the next session, recommend- 
ing the erection of a stone bridge, which report was accepted and adopted. 
Subsequently the following act was passed : 

"AN ACT IN RELATION TO PAWTUCKET BRIDGE. 

" It is enacted htj the General Assembly as follows : 

" Section 1. Lewis Fairbrother, Enoch Brown and Daniel 
Wilkinson are hereby appointed commissioners to receive proposals for 
the erection of a stone bridge across the Pawtucket Eiver, at the east end 
of the State turnpike, and to superintend the erection of the same, jjrovided 
its total cost shall not exceed the sum of twelve thousand dollars. 

'• Sec. 2. The ' District of Pawtucket ' are hereby authorized and 
empowered, at any regular meeting of said District, to issue bonds not 
exceeding the sum of twelve thousand dollars, bearing interest at the rate 
of six per cent, per annum, payable semi-annually. The proceeds of said 
bonds are to be used by the commissioners to defray the costs of the erection 
of the aforesaid bridge. 

" Sec. 3. Tiie net amount of tolls collected from the State turnpike 
are hereby appropriated, together with such other sum as may be found 
necessaiy, to be paid from the State treasur}', for the purpose of liquidating 
the interest on the aforesaid bonds, and two thousand dollars of the princi- 
pal of said bonds annually until the whole are discharged. 



110 APPENDIX. 

" Sec. 4. The agent of the State turnpike is hereby directed to retain, 
in his hands, the net amount of tolls collected from said turnpike, and from 
the same to pay the interest on the aforesaid bonds, and draw on the 
General Treasurer for such amount as may be necessary to annually dis- 
charge the amount to be paid as specified in the preceding section." 

The commissioners, under the act, at once secured the services of Sam- 
uel B. Gushing, Esq., of Providence, as engineer, to draft a plan, with 
specification, for a stone bridge. Proposals were advertised for, and when 
opened, the commissioners found that such a bridge as was designed and 
needed could not be built for the amount appropriated by the State. 
Fifteen thousand dollars would be required. The District of Pawtucket 
authorized their treasurer to issue bonds to the amount of twelve thousand 
dollars, — two thousand dollars of which were to mature annually. The 
bonds were issued and pliiced in the hands of the commissioners. Applica- 
tion was made to the towns of North Providence and Pawtucket to con- 
tribute the three thousand dollars wanted to make up the fifteen thousand 
dollars. By votes in special town meetings, those two towns contributed 
the sum of fifteen hundred dollars each. With the fifteen thousand dollars 
thus secured, the commissioners at once entered into a contract with Mr. 
Luther Kinsley, of Fall River, to build the bridge, and, at the same 
time, engaged Samuel B. Cusiiing, Esq., as engineer, to superintend the 
work. 

The heavy rains of that summer rendered it hazardous to commence the 
work that season, and the commissioners concluded to delay the work till 
the following year. Durinji the fiill and winter of 1857, the stone was 
being quarried and put in shape. All due preparations being made, on 
the sixth (lav of July, ISoS, travel was suspended on the old bridge, and 
its demolition commenced. From that day the work was vigorously prose- 
cuted ; and the present stone bridge, built complete in all its parts, was 
opened for travel on the fourth day of November, 1858. The event was 
one of sifrnal satisfaction to all of our citizens, and the day was given u}) to 
[lulilic re;joicings. The bridge is an ornament to our village. Its beauty 
and svmnietry have been the admiration of all who have seen it, reflecting 
the highest credit upon Mr. Gushing, the engineer, and Mr. Kinsley, the 



APPENDIX. Ill 

builder. It will stand long after all those who now travel over it have 
passed into the spirit-land. Time, only, can work its decay. 

The foregoing brief history discloses the fact, that to our fellow-citizen, 
Mr. Edward S. Wilkinson, this community are, in a very great degree, 
indebted for the present noble structure, and we take pleasure in thus 
putting upon record the merit that is due him. 
Respectfully submitted. 

G. A. MUMFORD, 

Secretary Presidents of Firewards. 
Pawtucket, April 4th, 1864. 



INDEX 



15 



INDEX. 



Adains, John, President •''** 

Albert, Prince *' 

Allen, Benjamin . . ^ 

Allen, Zachariali •'_'__ 

Allendale Baptist Clmrcli 57 

Alniy & Brown ^0'-_>^ 

Ahuy, Brown & Slater «+ 

Anilrew, Gov. John A 53, 54 



Angell, Elder ^» 

Angell, Lemuel Ifi, 38, 77 

Anthony, Daniel i'3, 'J-t, '.15 

Anthony, Daniel, Jr !'•'' 

Anthony, Josejih •'■^ 

Anthony, Richard '■•>', 10- 

Anthony, Willi.am 'J'^ 

Ark Wright "Water-Frame US 

Armington, Henry 5. '> 

Arnold, Asa i'^ 

" " invents Diflerential Speeder... 40 

Arnold, Major Gen. Olney 5, 2fi 

Arnold, Thomas ^i 37 

Axletree, rolling, for railroads, invented by 

Gardner Wilkinson 09, 100 



Bailey, Col. Charles E 84 

Baldwin, Col. Noami . . 9!) 

Bank, Farmers and Miudianics 44 

Fir.st National, of Pawtiu.'ket ... 44 

Manufacturers 44 

New Englamt Pacific 44 

North Providence 44 

Pawtuoket Institution for Havin.'is 4.'i 



Bank, Poples 44 

Phenix H 

Providenci' County Savings ... 45 

Slater 41 

Battle of Ilhoile Islaml ■ . ■ 95 

Benedict, Rev. David, 1(1, 53, .54, .55, .59, C.l, 79, 85 

Beverly, Mass '^ 

Blaeklmrn, John 95 

Blaekstone, William -5 

Blackstone River 25, 32 

Blake, Rev. 55 

Blodget, Rev. C 5<>> ■''9 

Boston, Mass 28 

Boundary Line, Massachus(^tts and Uhodc 

Island *' 

Bradley, Charles S., 05, (i8, 70, 71, 74, 78, 83, 88, 90 

Brass Foundry 37 

Braytou, Hon. George A 09, 83 

Brown Bridge 73 

Brown, Enoch 10*^ 

Brown, James S Ifi, 31, 40 

Brown, John '">. -^ 

Brown, Joseph O" 

Brown. .Tosejih F ' 

Brown, Moses 28, 30, 31, 33, 79, 94, 9(! 

Browni, Nicholas 90 

Erown, Obadiah .5, 84, 85 

Brown. Sylvanus 31, 32, 101,102 

Brown University •>^. '•'' 

Buiklin's Island ''3 

Buck'in, Col. S. i: ^ 

P.ullofk, Hon. J. U. 'I 

P.uuU.'r Hill ... "-' 



116 



INDEX. 



Bnrnsidd, Major Geu. A. E 52 

Burt, Abnim ' 100 

Callender's Historical Discourse S7 

Calico printing 41 

Camljridge Bricl<;e, iron worl< cast in Xortli 

Providence 27, !)!) 

Canals 22, S)!l, 100 

Cannon cast hy Oavid Wilkinson :5U 

Card-tacks made from cold iron !)3 

Census of North Providenc(! 22 

Charlestown, Mass 25 

Cliiiipewanoxsctt 73 

Chocolate mill 37 

Church, Allendale B.aiitist, 57 

First Baptist, I'rovideiu'e 53 

First Bajitist, North Providenc-;.. . 54 

First Methodist 5fi 

Fu'st Universalis! .511 

Hifjh Street Bai]tist 5(i 

of Immaculate Conc'cption 57 

Mill Street Universalist 5(1 

Pawtucket Congregational oij 

St Mary's 57 

St. Paul's 55 

Second Bajttist 55 

Clay, Henry 104 

(!ooney, Rev. E. 1 57 

Corliss & Nightingale 41, 43 

Cotton manufacture, 28, 2'J, .30, 32, 33, .34, 3(!, 3S. 
39, 40,41, 7.3, 82, !)3, 04, il5, yii, Slil, 100, 101 

Cottrell, Albert 108 

Cranston, li. 1 17, :M, 07 

Cumberland, K. 1 25 

Gushing, Samuel B 110 

Davis, Hon. Thomas 74 

De Lany, Rev. P. G 57 

Dexter, Andrew 94 

Dexter, Gregory 53 

Dexter, John \V I0(i 

Dexter, Newton S 94 

Dexter, N. G. B Hi, 43, 53, 8(), 88 

Differential Sjieeder, invented by Asa Ar- 

nolil 40 

Doyle, Hon. Thomas A., letter from 84 

Duckworth, Capt Chri.stophi-r 8 

Eaton, Ama.sa M . . . .5, l> 

Ela, Rev. D. H.... ...'xi, 82 

Ellis, Isaac . 1 0(> 



Fairbrother, Lewis 5, 41 

Field, J 37 

File manufacture 40, 41 

Fire Engines in North Providence 7, 43 

Flouring null erected 34 

Fowler, Samuel M 48 

Fox, ( ieorge 81 

French, Daniel 98,99 

Freshet of Blackstone River 32, 47 

Friends, Society of 57 

Fulton, Robert 35,98,99 

Gloucest,(n' . 17 

Goodrich, Rev. Mas.sena (1, 51), 78, 8f) 

Greene, Samuel. ... IG, 37, 7(i 

Greene, Timothy 3li, 73, 101 

Hair-cloth manufacture . . 34, 41 

Harvard College 80 

H.arwood, .John C 45 

Hatfield, Rev. R. M 5<>' 

Holliman, Rev. Ezekiel - . .20, 53 

Hopkins, Cojn. Esek 49 

Hopkins, Prince 95 

Hojikins, Gov. Steidien 19 

Hurley, Rev. , of Cambridge, Mass.. . 2f> 

Iron manufacture, 20, 20, 27, 32, 34, .36, 40,41 , 93, 94 

Jackson, Andrew .'. 33 

Jack.son, Daniel 94 

Jack.son, John 94 

Jackson, Samuel 94 

Jeft'ers, William 43 

Jenks, Rev. Ebenezer 21 

Jenks, Joseph, Gen 21, 22, 24, 86 

.Jenks, Jeremiah .' 73 

Jenks, Moses 73 

Jenks, M.ajor Nathaniel 21 

Jenks, Primus 31 

Jenks, Pardon 73 

Jenks, Stephen 2(>, 73 

Jenckes, William 21 

Johnston, Town of 17 

Kenyon, Jonathan C 108 

Kinnicutt, Shubael 43 

Kinsley, Luther 110 

Lafayette, Marquis de 50, 51, 72, 96 

Lathe (Slide), patented by David Wilkin- 
son 35 



INDEX. 



11" 



Lawi'ence, Amey 'J^ 

Lawrence, Hon. William Beach 71 

Leather Diaiiufacturo 3G, 37, 41 

Leather belts first used in North Providence 'J5 

Lime manufacture •'*' 

Lincoln, JIis. Abraham 89 

Liudlej-, Joshua 9* 

Lyman, Judf^e 38, 31), 40 

Macarris, James ^4 

Manchester, Dr. Cliarles K 21, 74 

Manchester Hall I'3 

Mann, Aaron 94 

JIann, Samuel V 94 

Mason, Stephen N 108 

Meacham, Randall 4 j 

Slilitia 7, 52, 05 

Jloshauticut, <lecd of 2U 

Moulton, James O 1U8 

Mumford, Georjie A Ill 

Muskets manufactured in North Provi- 
dence -'> 



Providence, City and town of. 



Public Schools 



17, l.S, 'Jl, -1-1,-jri. 
.51, 3.". 

47, 4.H, r,:; 



Quaker Lane. 



Nail manufacture . . . 

Newspapers 

Nickerson, Ansel D 



.27, U3 
...45 
... 40 



Ogden, Col., of New Jersey 'JS 

Trial between Col. O. and Kobert Fulton 08 

Ogden, Samuel 101 

Olney, John ID 

Olney, CaiJt. Stephen .jO, 51, 57, 72, 74 

Olney, Capt. Tliomas 10 

Ormsbee, Elijah 34, 07 

Pawtucket, E.I 21, 31 

Pawtucket, Mass 21, 36, 41 

Pawtucket Bridge, act iu relation to 100 

" " History of 104 

Pawtucket Hair-Clotli Comi^any 34, 41 

Pawtucket Light Guard 7, 52, O.j 

Pawtucket River. .20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 20, 20, 35, 4i; 

Pawtucket Turnpike 107, 108 

Peck, Lewis 04 

Perkins, Jacob 101 

Perry, Com. Oliver H 46 

Pierce, Capt., killed near the Pawtucket 

River 22 

Pitcher & Gale 40 

Potter, Abel 20 

Potter, E. 41 

•Potter, Rachel 20 



Rimdall, Stephen "' 

Rehoboth, Mass 21 , .34 

Religion loose in Rhode Island *^7 

Reynolds, John 04 

Rhodes, Christopher 101 

Rhodes, Rev. Christopher 57 

Rhodes, James "" 

Rhodes, William 101 

Rhode Island Historical Society 04 

Rhode Island Society for the Kucourage- 

ment of Domestic Industry 2.s 

Ilichmond & Sons 41 

Ilobbin.s, Charles 07 

llobinsou, George - ■ ''7 

Uousmaniere, H. & 'T. E 4:i 

S.-iyles, CLark 100 

Sayles, William F 5,84,8.", 

Scituate, Town of 17 

Scott, Lieut. Gen. Winfleld 52 

Screw cutting 27, 28, 07, 100 

Sear.s, Rev. Barnas 00, 8(> 

Seekonk,Mass -1 

Sergeant's Trench 24 

Shepard, Francis H b' 

Sherman, Robert 45 

Shiji-building ■ ^7 

Slade, Andrew R 108 

Slater, John 101 

Slater, Samuel, 26,29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 53,54, 
85,87,88,95,96,101 

Slitting mill erected 34 

Smith, Rev. C. E 12 

Smith, Eleazer 03, 04 

Smith, Gov. James Y 83 

Smitlifield, Town of 17, 27, 44 

Snuft' manufacture 'M 

South Boston Bridge 09 

SpaiUding, Rev. C. H 88 

Spauldlng, Nathaniel 1 08 

Spencer, Gideon L 107, 108 

Steamboats in Narragansett Bay, 34, 35, 77, 97 

Steere, Thomas 73 

Stevens, Col. John, of Hoboken, N.J... . 0« 

Story, Chief Justice 24 25 

Sturtevant, William H 45 



118 



INDEX. 



Sullivun, Majiir (Jcueral Joliu !i."i 

.Suiulay Schools .>j, .14, ^2 

Swan Point 73 

S weatland, Natlian .J 102 

Taft, Kev. Georse 55, 57, 5'J, (>5, 79, 8G 

Taxes :«l 

Thomas, Hiram H 5 

Thorp-i, J :«) 

Tifft, ftlder 55 

Tillinghast, Joseph L., Senator from Rliode 

Island 101 

Tillingliast, I'ardon E 11 

Tobacco 38 

Uliham, Eev. S. F 5i> 

Victoria, Queen «l 

Walcott, Cai)t. Benjamin 102 

Walker. Nathaniel 73 

W.alker, William K 7 

Ward. Gov 1 y 

Warner, Kaehel 20 

Washlinrn, Uf'V. Israel .10 



Wasliiiii;ton, (ien (Teorj;e (it; 

We«deu,JohnH 108 

Wen.scnft, North Providence )iroposed to he 

called IS 

WestA^ott, KiUv.ard 1(12 

Wilkinson, Ahraham 27, 3!), 73 

Wilkinson, Daniel .5, (i, l(i, 27, 73, 84, 8.5, <J0 

Wilkinson, David 27, 28, .32, :H, :«, 40, liO, 8.5 

Wilkinson, Edw.ard S 5, KJ 

Wilkinson, (Jardner !)ll. 100 

Wilkinson, Isaac 27, 73 

Wilkinson, Israel !)H 

Wilkinson, .reptlia, ,Ir '. H'J 

Wilkin.son, .Jeremiah 93, 94 

Wilkinson, Josiah 87, 88 

Wilkinson, Oziel,27, 33, .■i4,:i(i,37,39,72,73,93,i)4 

Wilkinson, Smith a2 

Wilkinson, William .30, 101 

Williams, Roger 81 

Winsor's Cove .'55 

Wood, James 11,13 

Wooiiasepiatucket River 20 

Woousocket Falls, 25, 20 

Worcester, Mass 28 



HK225 



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